The Drive

I have a new found respect for the motor sports industry. For years, I never considered this a sport as the origins of stock car racing come from those good ol’ boys in the back woods transporting moonshine. It was the Americans who made car racing more spectator-friendly by having the cars race in circles. But, how many laps could you watch and remain engaged? I was the casual follower who would notice on the news that only the wrecks and the ending were worth watching. The rest of it was just pomp and circumstance.

But, that was before I started driving 60 miles one way to my employer in the job deprived Upstate of South Carolina. About three months into this, I managed to find a car pool partner 30 miles into my commute which helped on gas, wear and tear and not having to drive 620 miles a week. It was at the six-month mark of this stop gap situation where I noticed my hip giving me trouble then at the seven-month mark my lower back had me calling in sick. This was my introduction to the quackery of chiropractors who clam up when asked about medical insurance and begin badmouthing certified health care providers. Luckily, I didn’t waste too much money or time getting my back back to normal and invested $100 in a Shiatsu massage chair which does the trick on most days.

If one thing can be said about my home state, a place that holds a special place in my heart providing that the second time back is blocked out, is that it was a true test of my character, forced me to focus on satisfying the challenge of remaining relevant with my past in Japan and California and measured my endurance. Truck drivers, couriers, taxi drivers and yes, race car drivers get nothing but respect from me. After all, I walked a mile in their shoes for 10 months at 620 miles per week a pop. Not to mention driving a left-hand vehicle in a right-handed way for the US Postal Service for five months. A another wacky driving experience for another time…

(September 2009-June 2010)  Passion meets opportunity. What drives a guy to drive an hour one-way to earn a living? More than just double digit unemployment.

Clemson, SC- Where the rubber meets the road for International Education and English to Speakers of Other Languages in the Upstate of South Carolina.

http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com (C) 2010