late night drives across town
I love my life. … Did I actually say that?! A year ago, I made one of the toughest decisions of my life, to completely change everything so I could finally take care of myself. I was so miserable.
I went from head of a private school to freelance writer, caregiver, dog sitter, and house sitter. I’m not making near what I made before, in fact, financially I am struggling. But I’m so happy building my new life. Building my empire is what I like to call it. Where I get to cruise around town late at night.
Have you ever driven the streets between suburbs and cityscapes at 2am?
This is where I found myself this morning and for the next few mornings for the rest of this week on my way to watch some of my favorite kids.
I took a deep breath in when I headed out, smelling the rain coming.
No cars on the road. Green light after green light. A cool temperature at 68 degrees with grey cloudy puffs scattered across the night sky.
Heater on but windows halfway down, enough to feel the wind kiss my face and run through the stubborn frizzy straggly hair, outcreeping my loose bun.
The best part, the moonroof back as far as it can go while I drive 5 miles over the speed limit on cruise control, even though I want to drive faster. This is peak time to meet ticket quotas and I’m the perfect target, the only car on the street.
It’s cruising hour.
As I get further and further into the city, I see one or two people, trying to stay warm, crossing the streets, pushing all they have to their name in a shopping cart. A pet dog in tow. Faithfully loyal and cautiously cared for.
Sometimes I see the older boys of the streets, the ones on the verge of manhood, on skateboards gliding towards oncoming traffic. But there is no traffic. Just me. They look cool and calm, sailing the black asphalt sea. T-shirts flat against their chests, sleeves flapping in the zephyr.
The best part, the freeway, a promising ominous road of carefree potential. Best not to risk it. Instead, my go to, one hand on the steering wheel, the other elbow locked arm outstretched through the moon roof feeling the cool air push my hand back and fingers apart.
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I’ll ever ask of you
You gotta promise not to stop when I say when she sang …