Just Another Car on the Road: Looping Around
Atlanta is renowned for its quality traffic (I jest). And according to many of my passengers, “every big city has bad traffic.” Maybe that’s true. Maybe it’s just a sign of the times — too many cars, too few solutions. But Atlanta traffic is… different. It’s not just congestion — it’s a slow-motion crawl to nowhere, every day, at every hour.
City planners have tried — bless ’em. There’s I-75/I-85 running north and south, I-20 running east and west, 400 north and south is thrown in for good measure. And then there’s the crown jewel of failed fixes: I-285, a full circle around the city. North, south, east, west — all at once. It’s a loop.
The sound of the truck starting.
The ritual GPS tap.
Morning sun peeking through.
Brake squeals. Changing traffic lights.
The “I’m here” text.
The “be out in a sec” reply.
Greetings. Home check-ins.
Pick up some “whatever.”
The day fades. Fuel stops. Carwashes. Vacuums.
Schedule reviews.
Then —:
The sound of the truck starting.
Adjust the temperature.
Tap the radio. Set the GPS.
Brake squeals. Changing lights.
The day fades to night.
The sound of the truck starting…
The day fades to night…
The sound of the truck starting…
You switch lanes in stop-and-go traffic — the new lane slows immediately, the one you just left speeds up. The truck ahead feels like it’s blocking you on purpose. You move over — and here comes a car, six lanes over, diving in just to cut you off.
You exit the highway — only to face red lights.
You spot familiar cars — same time, same place — like old classmates.
You debate: stop now at the clean, convenient store… or push two exits down for better reentry to your route? Convenience vs. efficiency. Every. Single. Time.
The sun rises.
You’re headed up I-85 North again.
Greetings and salutations.
You drop off at the airport.
You pick up at the airport.
You’re headed up I-85 North again.
The day fades to night.
The sound of the truck starting.
“Groundhog Day.”
Sometimes I wonder:
Is every car out here working against me?
Do they know something I don’t?
Have the other drivers conspired — “Truman Show”?
The sound of the truck starting. Have I learned something new?
Am I getting better in my routine? The day fades. Is my routine just my routine? Am I doing the same thing or is this a different thing? I just took another exit. Where am I?
I’m on I-285.
Looping around.
Isn’t that just like life?
This is Ralph, and I’m just another car on the road.