Just Another Car on the Road: Avoiding Potholes.
In my line of work, I come across a lot of potentially hazardous situations. Because of that, I tend to stay guarded. Speculatively, I imagine the worst-case scenario, think through a rational response, and act accordingly.
This morning, I was leaving a hotel, headed to pick up clients. I often park at hotels since many of my riders are coming from there—or from airports and nearby businesses. (I’m digressing.)
Anyway, as I was pulling out of the lot onto a narrow street, I noticed a car coming zooming really close to my side. (Okay, maybe not zooming, but still too close for comfort. I digress again.)
Here’s the thing—when you’re on the road a lot, you learn to be territorial. It’s not about aggression—it’s about safety. If you protect your space, you buy yourself time: time to react, to adjust, to stay safe.
So here I am, boxed in. A car behind me, a curb beside me, and this one vehicle creeping dangerously close to the passenger side.
I’m thinking: What are you doing?!
I can’t move, can’t dodge, can’t do anything but brace for a possible impact.
But then—just before I panic—the driver veers slightly to the center of the lane, giving me space… and exposing the massive pothole right in front of them. A pothole I already knew was there.
They weren’t coming for me.
They were just avoiding the pothole.
Isn’t that just like life?
Sometimes we get so caught up in protecting ourselves from what feels like an attack that we forget—others are just trying to protect themselves, too. No threat, no offense, no malice.
They’re just avoiding their own potholes.
Well—here comes my client. Gotta go.
This is Ralph,
and I’m just another car on the road.