The Road

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about California? Maybe for some it’s the beautiful beaches, gorgeous weather, or even Disneyland. But the majority of us from California think of one thing: traffic. From the 405 to the 5 to the 110, the Southern California freeways are perpetually crowded, filled with traffic jams and crazy drivers for the majority of the day. When I started my drivers training, my dad told me, “If you want to get angry at something, just drive into downtown LA and back. You’ll be angry pretty quick.” Needless to say, when I finally did get my license I was in no rush to join in on the fun that is the California “Parking Lot”.

For the first year or so of driving, I took surface streets to everything.  If there was a way to take surface streets and back roads (well, as back road-y as SoCal could be) to my destination, I was determined to take it. If there wasn’t a way, I refused to drive. Was my idea of the freeways a little exaggerated? Probably, but nothing my friends said would change my mind. Plus, my parents were huge advocates of my boycott on the freeways; they figured it kept me out of accidents. I had no problem spending the extra ten to fifteen minutes driving that it took to not utilize the freeways.

However, my fear would soon be tested. The summer before my senior year of high school I found myself a job in my dad’s company, working as an office drone. Most days I just did the basics: copying, editing, emailing, and calling clients. One day, however, my supervisor bestowed upon me the task of delivering a set of drawings to the project supervisor at one of the jobsites in Beverley Hills. I worked in their office in Orange County, so the drive was going to be about 35 miles. After looking it up on Google Maps, however, I realized the freeways were my only option. The website estimated the surface street travel time to be about an hour longer than the freeways, not to mention it had me going through the rather sketchy neighborhoods of Inglewood and Watts. After nervously pondering my options, I deduced that I would have to drive on those roads I had feared for so long.

My heart was racing as I pulled the car into the onramp. Checking all my mirrors multiple times I merged myself into the first lane. Ok, I thought, I can do this. About a mile down the road I finally realized that all the cars were passing me with ease. I then realized I had been going 45 mph on the freeway, too scared to speed up. After my shock wore off, I was able to speed up and coast. My arms, rigid and locked into position, began to loosen up. Before I knew it, I reached my exit and had conquered the Los Angeles freeway.

It took me many more occasions to feel comfortable driving on the highway, but I was able to master it before I left for college. Every time I get on the road, I still find myself humbled by the busy, fearsome monstrosity that is the Southern California freeways.