Editor's Log
Electronic Greetings from Yamamoto Central!
Feb. 13, 2008
Last month I got a little nostalgic, waxing poetic ever so slightly about the demise of the print version of Inside Line. Which is perfectly apropos as that’s the only waxing I’m likely to be doing since the advent of those drive-through carwash deals. For twelve dollars I have the privilege of the use of their free vacuum, the super-duper drive-thru scrub job with tri-color wax application, Rain-X treatment and a tire and wheel buffing along with a nifty little bag-o-scent that makes my old grocery getter smell just like a new Oldsmobile – or at least what one used to smell like before that marque faded into what I assume to be an odorless oblivion.
Speaking of autos and such, a couple of days ago I had a harrowing experience while riding with a buddy in his new SUV. We were moving slowly along when first a deluge of blinding water came down on us followed by what can only be described as a white-out condition which effectively blocked our vision in all directions. And right about then was when things took a serious turn for the worse.
WHAM!
We rear-ended a car ahead of us that we never even saw . . .
WHAM!
The car behind us plowed into us from the rear!
What followed was a succession of collisions too numerous to count, all amid blaring horns and alarms screaming like claxons. Although it seemed to take forever (probably because I seem to remember it as if it happened in super-slow motion), blessedly, in a few short seconds it was over. The deluge slackened, the white covering on the glass dripped toward the white-coated roadbed, and then the authorities were there motioning us forward before we could even think of climbing out of the car.
I’ve got to tell you…that was the worst drive-thru carwash experience of my life.
I’ve made up my mind. I’m never riding with Joe again. Of sure, he and the authorities said the lady in front of us was putting on her lipstick and in an effort to get just the right angle on the rearview mirror didn’t notice she was pressing on her brake pedal, but I’m not buying it.
As for the lady, she says she was just riding along minding her own business, putting on her makeup, when Joe attacked her from the rear. All I know is that anyone so intrinsically unsafe as to be involved in a three car pile-up at the Octopus Drive-Thru Car Wash is not my choice for designated driver. Next time I’m taking the bus.
Good fishing,
Jerry Puckett