Pragmatist
Pragmatist

F O G !!!
Thu Nov 18 2004

It's that time of year.

Went to the Wednesday night gathering, and knew it was going to be foggy when it was time to come home, but I hadn't remembered HOW foggy this place can be.

When I left D&D's place, it was pea soup. THAT was pea soup? I was slightly mistaken. The pea soup started as soon as I turned the corner, and it kept getting worse. I was creeping along because I knew there were two stop signs that should be heeded, and in that kind of murk I wasn't taking any chances.

When I finally got on the exit road--long, dark, narrow 2-lane, and curvy in spots--that's when wanted to get the ladle out. In fact I wanted to hang my head out the window, but then realized my glasses would get fogged up, and they don't have windshield wipers.

I think in some spots I might have been going as fast as 15 mph, but I was too focused on the road to dare a peek at the speedometer. There were some spots where the fog was so heavy I couldn't see the edge of the road. When I got to the signal light where I turned onto a main road, the fog seemed to be somewhat lighter, but I was still driving cautiously. And wouldn't you know, some yahoo decided I wasn't going fast enough and he was practically riding on my bumper. I would have moved over, but the shoulder wasn't wide enough in any one spot. Finally, at the next major intersection, he turned away.

However, and of course--another bumper jockey got on me. Well, I'm not speeding up for anybody in conditions like that. You can just take your time. Finally when I got onto the main drag and almost home, the fog pretty much lifted. It was there, but the horizontal visibility was pretty good.

Which brings to mind....

I worked afternoon shift at the Santa Ana Police Department and lived in Westminster (about 10 miles, as I recall). There were some nights when the sky was gorgeously clear, stars in abundance, but I couldn't see the roadway. Yeah, ground fog. Now that's scary too.

I had an old, I mean ancient, Studebaker, and the guys would worry about my getting home. Frequently one of the cops would follow me to the city limits line to see that I got out of Santa Ana, at least, safely. Yep, they take care of their own.

Shalom

7 Comments
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Nov 18 2004
    wow, i'm picturing the eerie fog blanketing the night and you squinting through the front window. good on you for taking it slow

    sez
  • From:
    Sweetsummerbreeze (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Nov 18 2004
    The fog must be spreading because it was foggy on my way home from my parents house tonight.
  • From:
    MissTick (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Nov 18 2004
    Don't you just hate it, when someone breathes to your neck on the road?! I always feel the urge to break really hard and unexpected...but then, I guess, in your case they probably wouldn't notice, that you've stopped... :-) lol...I'm glad that you've got home safely. way to go: "no frog can veil the true path!" ;-)
  • From:
    Yetzirah (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Nov 18 2004
    Glad you made it home in one bowl!
  • From:
    Dustbunny3 (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Nov 18 2004
    It is that time of year!! Seems the older we get our sorry eyes play blinding tricks also.Here in the high valley we get a inversion layer that keeps the cold trapped and you can get freezing fog for days and its lights on all the time, Funny part drive up the mountain 1000' and bright sun. When it does lift everything is is sparkling
    white and so pretty.
  • From:
    CovertOps (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Nov 18 2004
    Fog is hazardous. I am glad we don't get it in Malaysia, although sometimes the air quality suffers and we get haze when there are forest fires in that bloody Indonesia.

    I once read about a London pea soup that was so bad that emergency had to be declared!

    I hope you get clear skies soon!

    Please feel free to lift or quote anything you want from my diary. I give you full and free permission, since you are one of my dearest friends and one of the individuals I respect and care for most!

    Lots of Love,
    E.L.
  • From:
    Dreamerbooks2003 (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Nov 18 2004
    You are much braver than I.. I would have stayed at home
    Glad you made it through the pea-soup and home safe and sound
    Hugs
    P
    I may be off line for a few days. I'll catch up when I return