Driving Addictions

I spend a lot of time driving to various towns to teach Mah Jongg. In the summer I am back and forth to the beach, which depending on which beach is usually a three hour drive. Since my car can practically go on its own I like to listen to books on audible. There is nothing better than a well written book performed by a talented reader. The best readers are like the best actors, able to play all the parts.

Besides enjoying a fabulous book, I love to talk on the phone to far off friends and family as I drive. Talking on the phone is a lost pastime and that is sad because it was my best skill as a younger person.

I was lucky enough to have a free long distance card thanks to my father’s connection to many phone companies. So when I was a just graduated twenty something during the terrible recession of the early 80’s, I could call all my far off friends for free and talk for hours. As poor young adults it was good entertainment to get to gab into the night. I often would talk to my friend Hugh in Miami as we would watch the same TV show in our own respective cities.

Nowadays it is practically rude to call someone without first texting them to see if they are available. It must be what it was like when the phone was first invented and people stopped dropping by theirs friends homes. Today it would be shocking for someone to come by unannounced or uninvited. That is almost what phoning someone is like.

On my drive home from the beach today I was listening to a book my dearest friend Suzanne had recommended. A very funny phrase came up and I wanted to discuss it with her and didn’t want to forget it. Since I was driving and did not want to text I did the audacious thing and called her.

My call went to voice mail, no surprise, but not five minutes later she called me back. We had a great gab fest for over an hour. It made my drive go by so quickly and enjoyably. I told her I was going to stop at the farmers market on my way home as we were saying goodbye, but when I hung up I realized I had passed it six exits before. No going back.

So I turned my book back on and listened the rest of the way home in pure happiness. Between the book and the call I felt like my drive was not a chore, but a highlight of my day.