Start…Stop….Start….Stop….Start…Stop….No, this wasn’t a fun game of musical chairs, nor was I fondly trying to fix a long-lost treasured but broken video tape. Instead, I was stuck in Dallas/Fort Worth traffic while trying to complete a number of errands before heading to my brother’s college graduation ceremony. Having lived most of my driving career in small town Wisconsin and rustic and rural Arkansas, I am not used to driving through heavily-trafficked highways at all. I know I am not the best driver, but I am not exactly the worst driver either. I am just the “easy-to-panic-when-I’ve-got-five-kids-in-the-car” type of driver.
Now don’t get me wrong. I really don’t despise highway driving. In fact, I find that I do my best thinking while taking long, relaxing road-trips on highways uncluttered by other passing vehicles. Somehow, the kids are always lulled to sleep for longer periods of time by the gentle constant cadence of our tires moving smoothly across long stretches of vacant highway pavement. I relish these few “me” times.
However, Dallas/Fort Worth driving is far from this, especially during the busy holiday season. Yesterday was no exception, and probably even worse, as numerous school districts around the area held their last day of school before the holiday break, enabling many families to finally make their long awaited migrations to pre-determined holiday destinations. Vehicles of various kinds and colors flocked the highways and we found ourselves in a regular start-stop pattern instead of the preferred soothing smooth-riding rhythm. The majority of the time, I found myself paying more attention to what my kids were doing in the back of the Expedition than to my driving. Pretty scary I know, but when you’ve got two kids arguing like squirrels brawling over the last remaining nut on the ground, a crying and screaming two-year-old (who was also trying to tear his way through the straps of his car-seat), a whiny pre-teen who would rather be home listening to her dead, uncharged I-pod, and a video-game crazed son whose Nintendo DS jingled a tune each time he paused to think, you just can’t help but turn around more often to yell at the kids.
Of course, while all this was going on inside the car, the beamer to the left was also swerving in and out of lanes like some graceful ice-skater trying to elegantly weave across the ice. Except he wasn’t so graceful as he almost side-swiped the left front-end of my SUV, so while I was screaming at my kids, my horn was honking excessively at the driver of the beamer who, by now, had given me the finger.
Four hours later, we finally made it home. I felt like I had run a mile-long marathon even though I had only been sitting in the car yelling at my kids and honking my horn at all the lunatic drivers on the road. By then, I had lost my mind, but at least no one had lost an arm or a leg.
Trust me I can totally relate!! There are some serious crazy drivers out there.. atleast you and your kids got home safely!
<3 ViSiTiNG FROM SiTS
I was on 635 near the Galleria last night and, what should have taken about 30 minutes, took me 75. I was late for my meeting last night due to an accident in the HOV lane! When I traveled home, heading north up 75 at 8pm, there were 3 separate accidents! Unbelievable. Makes me just want to stay home.
Lynne´s last blog ..Giveaway Winners!
Yesterday was a really scary day for driving through Dallas with all the accidents. I couldn’t believe it either. I’m glad you made it home safe too.
UGH! I feel ya SITSta! I’m from LA and used to live in Boston so traffic is something I’ve always endured.
Go Sox by the way!
Happy Saturday SITS Sharefest! Great site…I’ll be sure to come back soon and see some more!
Alex aka Ma What’s For Dinner
http://www.MaWhats4Dinner.com
Oh my gosh, I can totally relate. We live in a smaller city, but the traffic is horrid! Especially right around Christmas because everyone’s out, and everyone is in a hurry….it’s a madhouse. So, when the weather is bad, well, that just puts the icing on the cake. I sometimes just smile at people as they push their way past me and say, “Merry Christmas!” mouthing it to them…..it just drives me nuts. LOL Following you from MBC.
Mel´s last blog ..Winner of Storia Home Handmade Christmas Banner
I do hate driving during this time of the year. It is really crazy no matter where you live. Thank you for sharing your comments I am just about to head over to your blog now.
That was how it was when we were on vacation in Penang earlier this week. We just keep the radio blasting and hope some good songs come on
. I have so many pet peeves about driving, just don’t get me started LOL.
Clairity´s last blog ..mall rats on an island
High traffic is not fun at all. Luckily the traffic didn’t put a dent in your trip
Alex, I am still trying to get used to this traffic. It is not fun at all. Thanks for stopping by.
Isn’t it tough being a mom and a driver at the same time? I can totally relate to the yelling at the little ones in the backseat fighting, and praying I don’t kill anybody at the same time!
Vivianne´s last blog ..Snapshots of My Life
Thanks for commenting Vivianne. I do so find it hard to drive with kids in the back. Your concentration on the roads is never 100%.
Ugh OMG I would have went crazy! Kudos to you for making it out of that sane!
Janine´s last blog ..EASe Funhouse Treasure Hunt Game Review
My husband’s parents live in Houston so I completely understand Texas traffic. Boston traffic is pretty bad, too, though. Basically I hate it all at this time of year!!
I’m here via MBC. Glad to find you!
Sarah
http://www.thestrollerballet.com
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Janine. Yes, I was so glad to be out of that traffic!
Hi there from Utah – we’re famous here for our poor driving habits. Not a good thing to be famous for. I do so love to drive outside of Utah, I love how much more courteous the drivers are. I keep trying to follow their examples!
Kristin
kristin´s last blog ..Real Meaning of Christmas
Hi Blia! I’m not sure how I missed this post. I live in Dallas! I can’t believe you were here and I didn’t know it. That is so funny. And also funny becuz I’m from Chicago originally and I think that Dallas drivers are quite tame compared to the complete lunatics you will find on the roads up there. It’s all a matter of perspective huh? But you know what makes the highways esp. bad down here–they never clean them in bad weather! That is a first for me, since in Chicago the minute the bad weather starts up they get out there with the salt trucks, plows, etc. But down here, there are so many more accidents during bad weather the roads are truly soooooo bad. I’m so sorry you had to drive through that and with your kids in the car too. It is so distracting when the kids are fighting in the car. Sometimes, I just feel like pulling over cuz I can’t even concentrate. You are very brave! I hope your bro’s graduation was awesome and that you enjoyed your visit! Thanks again for honoring me with that award. You know I wanted to give it right back to you, but I thought that might seem wierd. And maybe stalkerish as well. But just for the record. I do stalk your blog. Obsessively. Every day. You rock. Have a super day.
Lots of Good information in your posting, I bookmarked your blog post so I can visit again in the near future, Cheers