Traffic Jammed
I am completely terrified of driving in Boston. I don’t own a car and usually resort to taking the T everywhere. On the off chance that I will need a car I usually get a zip car or Steve will occasionally leave me his car while he is off on one of his multiple business trips. The only places I really know how to drive to in Boston are: the super-market, Paul and Beth’s house, and the airport. So any real amount of driving usually puts me on edge and I get even more nervous when I’m driving Steve’s car because it’s a manual car and I am afraid of doing something stupid and wrecking it.
This brings us to last Friday when Steve called me from the airport so he could get a ride home. We had worked out before his trip that I would have the car so I could pick him up, then we could enjoy the rest of our Friday together. I jumped in the car and headed to the airport, I noticed that the gas gauge was at a fourth of a tank but the airport is only fifteen minutes away so I figured I would be fine.
That was until half an hour later I was still on the highway stuck in traffic not moving. This was my first time in traffic in a standard car and let me tell you it was an awful experience. My legs were cramping from holding in the clutch so much, I was sweating from the heat, and I was watching the gas gauge go down to empty. I panicked, I had no idea where I was (other then on the highway), there were no exits around, and I didn’t know how to get to a gas station from any exit that might be near by (the tend not to put many gas stations in downtown Boston or in the North End). I called Steve panicky and with tears in my eyes. I could see myself breaking down in the Sumpner tunnel and getting hit by another car and dying a fiery death. “Uhhh, I don’t know what to tell you babe, except my phone is about to die” was all the comfort Steve could give. After the phone call I contemplated turning the car off then just like that the traffic lifted and I zoomed to the airport in less then five minutes. My knuckles white from holding the wheel I got out and turned the car over to Steve who drove us to a gas station then home where I took a nap and tried to forget about the ride to the airport until next week when I have to do it again.
Next time I’ll make sure there is plenty of gas though.
This brings us to last Friday when Steve called me from the airport so he could get a ride home. We had worked out before his trip that I would have the car so I could pick him up, then we could enjoy the rest of our Friday together. I jumped in the car and headed to the airport, I noticed that the gas gauge was at a fourth of a tank but the airport is only fifteen minutes away so I figured I would be fine.
That was until half an hour later I was still on the highway stuck in traffic not moving. This was my first time in traffic in a standard car and let me tell you it was an awful experience. My legs were cramping from holding in the clutch so much, I was sweating from the heat, and I was watching the gas gauge go down to empty. I panicked, I had no idea where I was (other then on the highway), there were no exits around, and I didn’t know how to get to a gas station from any exit that might be near by (the tend not to put many gas stations in downtown Boston or in the North End). I called Steve panicky and with tears in my eyes. I could see myself breaking down in the Sumpner tunnel and getting hit by another car and dying a fiery death. “Uhhh, I don’t know what to tell you babe, except my phone is about to die” was all the comfort Steve could give. After the phone call I contemplated turning the car off then just like that the traffic lifted and I zoomed to the airport in less then five minutes. My knuckles white from holding the wheel I got out and turned the car over to Steve who drove us to a gas station then home where I took a nap and tried to forget about the ride to the airport until next week when I have to do it again.
Next time I’ll make sure there is plenty of gas though.
posted by Maria @ 4:37 PM
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