I was returning home after a weekend visit with my parents, I was short on time for my
return ight and needed a ride to the airport, about 7 miles away.
There were no Ubers then (The 80's). Cab fare was ridiculous and not very reliable
when it came to timing. Unfortunately, I had waited until the last possible moment to
go to the airport.
A real Twilight Zone moment happened..."Suppose a Blind Man Offered To Drive You
Somewhere...A place...A zone he'd driven over 40,000 times...Do-do-do-doo"
My daddy happily infused, “Hell, I'll take you”. My mother said she would ride along.
She hadn't driven in 20 years. I was scratching my head...Dad had never driven me
anywhere unless he was the one going there.
My mother's last drive outing, some 20 years ago resulted in an accident. (Her fault)
For some weird reasoning, I hesitated a bit and said "Ohh-Kaaay...I thought, in Rod
Sterling mode..."Let's see how this plays out"
It would have made quite a scary video, but no camera phone video back then. Only
Kodak Brownies, Polaroids, and gigantic 25 lb. video equipment of that era.
In amazement. we made it to the airport and they returned home without incident or
accident. Well, maybe my pants were just a little a wee bit wet...LOL
When I nally made it to my home from the airport 3 hours later, I called my sister
Number #5 to tell her what had transpired that day, she simply replied with an
un appable voice, “They do it all the time”... I dunno, does practice makes perfect?
I considered this idea some years afterward... There's an old adage that goes
something like this. "I've done that so many times, I bet I can do it blindfolded." I
considered these facts on my God-Bless-Us trip.
1.) My father had driven that route to and from the airport around 40,000 times over
his career. (I'm sure he might have said or thought that after doing so 1,000 times.)
2.) His job was located, but one turn from the nal airport route.
3.) Traf c and drivers were more civil 40 years ago.
4.) There were no more than 5 easy-to-remember turns to reach my airport
destination from our home at the time.
5.) My father was motivated to drive me.
6.) They had experience driving blind. Maybe this same route. So, see it makes sense...
7.) It was during the day time Blind man. Did it matter? Yes, mom had to see clearly.
8.) Yes, There Is A God...
I'm still shaking my head...My dad, he gured it out.