Doug Van Pelt

Driving in Denial

On the way to the airport last Friday morning (at around 5am), our car made a noise. My wife made mention of it, but I hoped it was just something I ran over that was spun up underneath the wheel well and long gone (kind of like in Bradley's poem: looooooonnngg gooooonnnneee). I turned down the soft Foo Fighters song on the stereo and listened. I was hoping it wasn't a flat. We were pressed for time. I drove on at the speed of 65 mph. The noise stayed with us. It got consistently louder. Finally, it was almost that "Wham!" of a blowout, as we had shredded the tire and were riding on the rims. I hope I didn't damage the rims. I was late for work today getting the tire replaced. We pulled over to an extra wide shoulder, my wife watched for oncoming traffic that might slam into us and end our lives in a flash while I speedily changed the flat. Maybe I should inquire if any NASCAR teams need a crew member. I was fast, man!

It was like I was driving to the airport in denial of the problem underneath me. I probably would've saved any potential rim damage if I would have pulled over and checked it out sooner. I hope I'm not living in denial in any areas of my life, hoping against hope that such and such isn't wrong. The problem can get worse that way.

That's my object lesson of the day. I've got to finish this next issue of Heaven's Metal Fanzine. It's going to be a good one. What do you think I do -- sit around and blog all day?!