Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce

After the play I began thinking about compassion as I drove home tonight. I considered how being compassionate has to do with living in and with gentleness. I started to shape up my blog; then I started blinking: some lights behind me were blinding, irritating. Darn, these are the only times I miss my Tahoe with its rear view and side view mirrors which adjusted for night time driving. As I accelerated from the 45 mph to the 60, I switched my rear view mirror down. That didn’t help much; the lights seemed blinding but the vehicle was not too close. Oh dear, I thought to myself, my astigmatism must be getting worse because this guy (yes, I thought male) seems to be right on my rear and he’s not.

Okay, so he had bright, halogen lights—or whatever those are. He gained on me on Reisenauer Hill but for some darn reason, he didn’t pass me. Was he on the phone? I wondered. He gained on me as we went down the other side. I gripped the steering wheel tighter; the lights stabbed my eyes from both of my side mirrors; my head ached. Relax my shoulders, think gently. I sent him a mental message: Please feel free to pass me. He didn’t. Headlights filled all my mirrors and danced off my eyeballs. I shrunk down in my seat dropping my eyes below the mirrors. Such I comfortable new position, I assured my body.

Finally, the highway divided; still he followed. In front of me the road was whitely lit. My puny lights seemed like small yellow lamp lights. I could see both sides of the road. In fact, I could see up the bank on the opposite side of the roadway. I wonder if I will see a badger or a raccoon. Finally, he decided to pass me—a huge red pickup, shiny and rolling by way above my little Subaru; my what big tires he has; bet he is proud of his truck. He picked up speed and lit the highway for miles beyond.

Slowly the stars appeared on all sides. My eyes regained calm and adjusted to the darkness. I could even see the constellations on the horizon. I smiled, thinking gentleness, thinking compassion. Far down the highway towards Lewiston, I saw on the horizon bright blue-red blinking lights. I smirked: Oh, think compassion—leave justice to the energy of the universe.

...another runner in the night