Passenger seat

The funny thing about being a car guy is it usually generates one of two conversations. The first is the similar to the one somebody in the medical field probable has which revolves around diagnosing some problem with a vehicle without every seeing the "patient" or hearing the mysterious but should be obvious to me noise. Of course the appropriate response as a card carrying car guy is "Ooooh , sounds expensive!"

The second conversation invariable has to do with your driving and the suggestion that either "you have got to ride with this guy" or "unless your insurance is up to day don't get in the passenger seat." I suspect I generate more of the second. There are a few brave souls (or brain damaged) that seem to cherish the thrill and become your unsolicited advocates as if they earn some sort of commission on the number of years you extract from each unsuspecting person's life. My friend Nick is one such advocate. I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he is brave not brain damaged but after years in youth ministry my diagnosis is suspect. Nick actually seems to enjoy riding in the car with me occastionally (why tempt fate more often).

This blog entry is not really about documenting my .... ahem .... enthusiastic driving skills. As I was reflecting on my initial post and this theme of driving, I began to think about different driving experiences I have had. Most track experiences involve an instructor that gives you pointers on how to control your vehicle or how to navigate the track. And yes find the apex of each corner. I have been blessed to have many good instructors over the years both in the car and outside of it. Eventually at a track event once you are deemed only a mild threat to those around you, they give you the opportunity to go "solo". The funny thing about being solo is it isn't as much fun because there is no one there to give you suggestions or see how truly cool you are. Inevitable if you can maintain your, only a mild threat status, you get the opportunity to instruct others. This involves them riding with you and you riding with them. Luckily I have gotten to experience this both inside the car and in life. This all lends me to the overwhelming sense that "passengers" in life make all the difference. I have many people in my life that instruct me. They are critical to my success. Not only can I not navigate without them, I don't want to try. It is something that I do not think I recognize often enough and I know I do not thank them to the extent that I should. There are many more than I could list and if I did I would certainly absent mindedly skip someone so to all of you, you know who you are, I say thanks. And to those that I have the opportunity to share my experience with I also say thanks because it is an incredible honor. The best parts of me are always the ones that I give away.

So I encourage you (the 3 of you that read my blog) to keep looking for those apexes and pay attention to those that would be your passengers. Happy motoring!

And don't worry eventually I will run out of automotive metaphors but after this is bathroom humor so trust me this is better.