Most days I slip behind the wheel at 9:30 a.m. and head to work, long after rush hour has lost its zip. During my twenty-minute drive, I usually spot a photo op or two. Yesterday, there were five, Yes, FIVE! Just five minutes into the trip. Kind of ironic, I know.
9:35 – Photo Op #1
On the dashboard, the song, “Fruitcakes,” suddenly appeared on the screen. I wanted to take the shot … had to take the shot, but the adult in my head said, “No! Don’t do it!”
“But, but … It’s a funny picture.”
“If you take it, you’ll be late!”
“You’re right,” I said, as sweat dripped down my face; I white-knuckled the wheel and continued on my way. All the while, “Fruitcakes” stared at me from the dashboard and then disappeared a few minutes later.
My adult high-fived me. Somehow I found that elusive, fly-by-night trait, known as self-control, and didn’t give in to a quick photo op fix.
But my Zen moment didn’t last long.
I was tested again at a four-way stop.
9:40 – Photo Op #2
A woman crossed the street with a baby strapped to her chest. She held a red umbrella to shield her from the sun.
You really suck, God!
My right cheek twitched. My adult again yelled, “No! Don’t do it!”
“Just one quick shot.”
“No! You’ll be late!”
I used my hyper-focus superpower to regain my composure then hit the gas.
After dodging the problem, I turned right into another photo op trap.
9:43 – Photo Op #3
On the corner, a sign taunted, “Rough Road Ahead.”
“Just one quick shot!”
My adult shook her head and pointed at the road.
I sighed and continued, both elated and surprised by my self-control. “I can do this! I said, confident I could make it to the office without a photo op fix … until that friggin truck approached in the opposite lane.
9:48 – Photo Op #4
As the truck passed, I saw the words, “Mosquito Squad,” printed on the door.
My skin started to crawl. I reached for the phone and stopped when my adult yelled again, “No! Don’t do it!”
“But … it said, ‘Mosquito Squad.'”
“Tough luck!”
I didn’t stop; I bit my lip as my armpits spritzed. Just seven more minutes. I said, “I can do this!”
Then, as I turned into the street that led to my destination, I spotted another distraction on the side of the road.
9:58 – Photo Op #5
A mother boulder with tot rocks sitting on top. I sucked in a breath and passed it, just as a spasm contorted my lips. My eyes bulged.
At 10:00, I hung a left into the parking lot.
I had the shakes for most of the day, until the drive home when I got my fix.
Because I took a picture of this.
Mother boulder smiles at tot rocks on top
That was yesterday.
Today, while backing out of the driveway after work, this appeared on the dashboard screen.
Fruitcakes
Yes, there is photo op Karma!
Do you have a photo op addiction?
Two out of five’s not bad, but I’d like to have seen the woman with the red umbrella 😉
I really wanted to get the shot of the lady with the red umbrella. It would have been brilliant!
You are going to make me get the camera out tomorrow. You have been verbally and visually twisting my arm and tomorrow it’s going to work.
Have a great weekend.
Good! I can’t wait to see the pictures you take. : ) Thanks. You, too. Enjoy the gorgeous weather.
The Mosquito Squad. Can I stop laughing now?
I know. The Mosquito Squad. Unfuckingbelievable. Please stop laughing. It’s been over 24 hours.
Kudo’s to your adult you, but I’m guessing you had to drink a cup of camomile tea to clam down. I pulled to the side of road yesterday morning to take a snap of the clouds overhead. I should note that I am not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but I like how easy it is to take a pic with my smartphone, especially clouds. I know what you’re thinking, ‘what a nerd’. Fruitcakes?! Funny.
You got a great shot of the clouds. I love the picture. I know. The smartphone makes picture taking a snap. Fruitcakes. Never heard of the song until this week.
Evil Twin is not amused that you let the adult you run the show.
My apologies to Evil Twin. There are times we have to say no to the petulant five year old inside.
What an addiction to have mate, especially when you’re driving.
You need to buy one of those special camera’s that you can stick on the outside roof of your car and have a button next to your steering wheel so you can just click click and click all the way to work. Better still, why not have a CCTV camera there instead and when you get home, you can take some ‘still’ photos from it, ha ha ha. That way, you won’t even have to stop driving and this eliminates the problem of being late.
Now you’re talking! Got to get me one of those CCTV cameras. : ) Maybe I’ll hire a photographer to accompany me on my drive to work.
I don’t think I could have resisted “Mosquito Squad.” I would have been laughing about it all day too.
Saying goodbye to the “Mosquito Squad” was tough, but I did laugh a lot. http://www.mosquitosquad.com/
No I don’t have that addiction at all. I could pass all that right by and not give it one thought about capturing a photograph. Hubby not so much. He’s the one with the camera.
Your drive to and from work are sure interesting to say the least.
Have a terrific Silly Sunday. 🙂
My drive takes me through town. That’s where the action is. Have a great day!
Methinks you might be a bit obsessed? I better not decide to go out streaking in your hood when you are out driving! You might run me down trying to get that photo op!
Only if I’m not on my way to work. I know I am obsessive. I took a picture of a bubble that appeared atop my contact eye container after I emptied it.
Mosquito Squad Lauren, priceless!
Seems like the best things appear when you don’t have time or it could have been a sign that you were suppose to have taken them. Either way you made it safely to work and did get a couple shots.
Not bad!
~Adrienne
Mosquito Squad is priceless. I wonder if I’ll ever get another opportunity to photograph it. Probably not a good idea while driving anyway. I am happy with the two shots I was able to get. Thank God for photo op Karma. Thanks Adrienne.
There is NO WAY “adult me” would have been able to resist taking the photo of the woman crossing the street with a baby strapped to her chest and a red umbrella.
Also – I’m glad you DID get the Fruitcakes photo!
hahahha! I know. I almost ripped off a hunk of seat with my teeth trying to restrain myself from taking a shot of the umbrella lady. Me, too. Thanks. I didn’t think anybody would believe me about the Fruitcakes.
I do this every damn day of my life and hate it that I’m always in such a hurry — to do what, I wonder? — to get somewhere.
Great post, Lauren.
Thanks Mike! Don’t despair. There is photo op Karma. You’ll eventually get those moments you missed.
Haha. Funny. So where’s the woman with the red umbrella?
hahahaha1 I never saw her again. Today it’s raining, so I might luck out. Though she probably only uses the red umbrella on sunny days.