detours...

I met a friend in Stockton today for coffee. And we sat outside and talked for a few hours and the sun was really nice and the conversation good. Then on the way out of town I hit up a thrift store and then I stopped at the convenience store for bottled water and then hopped on the freeway. And, only 15 minutes into the drive home - and two songs in to the new Echo & the Bunnymen CD - I hit a major traffic snag.

Near standstill, with no clear reason as to why.

It was hot, even with the air-conditioning, and the bottled water went fast and growing restless, I switched off the CD and listened to talk radio news and then became angry listening to a Louisiana senator talk about the reasons why it took so long to get the helicopters in for relief - because they were waiting for permission and each agency had a different answer as to exactly whom could grant said permission. Finally when I got to the point of wanting to scream - more than an hour after I left Stockton - I inched my way to the Walnut Grove exit, veered my car towards the escape and took off.

Seven miles to the River Road and from there I told myself it was OK to breathe a little bit and I switched off the talk radio in favor of the Bunnymen once again and by the time reached Courtland, with its orchards of pear trees - maturing fruit turning golden in the sun - I felt just the tiniest bit better about life once again.

Because sometimes sudden actions and detours are the best options possible.