BACK on the saddle again.
Our last driver, who had served us for almost 20 years, had left. A diffident man who we can trust with oodles of cash had to resign.
Matulis kasi ang damuhong ere. Nasa loob ang kulo.
Though married (to his second wife), he has had dalliances with women and even knocked up one of our kasambahays. That was forgiven.
But with another affair this time, an angry cuckolded husband came to our house with a gun in his hand. And off to hiding our driver did.
IT IS ME, ROADS!
Anak ng tipaklong, baka madamay pa kami. Laking kapahamakan.
This forces me to drive to my appointments myself. Or to go on urgent errands. Even with my dimming eyes.
I will get re-acquainted with roads, as I have been the past days. Again, I experience, most of them are so bad.
You get to memorize the lumps, the ruts, and the cracks.
Today’s DPWH is quick to claim credits for road projects, but is slow on fixing damages on existing streets. Mark my words.
Which means the condition of government-maintained pavements remain the same for considerable length of time.
Parating ka pa lang, alam mo na kung saan ang dapat mong iwasan.
CHANGING WAYSIDES
The main road to and from home has changed a lot from 20 years ago where I could hit a 100kph with my Galant at night and not be afraid of roadkill because both sides of the way were mostly farms and grassy vacant lots.
But now it is lined with houses, shops, chapels, and schools. Slow down time.
The 23-kilometer road is being widened but the progress has been excruciatingly slow. The government has been at it for more than five years.
Many Meralco posts still stand on finished portions, which also are being made parking slots by an incorrigible lot. Parked buses, vans, container trucks, SUVs, cars eat up space.
Local governments of Silang and Sta. Rosa must tow or clamp all these parked vehicles because they make the roads perilous.
Maaga pa lang ay abatan, bago umugat na kaugalian.
STUPID DRIVERS
The roads are one, the drivers are another. Again, I get to encounter idiot drivers on the road.
The ones who go slow on overtaking lanes, overtake from the right, drive like snakes, beat the red lights, turn left from the middle or even rightmost lane, ad infinitum.
I have to admit that these guys take my goat.
I have punched, slapped reckless drivers. I almost got mugged or shot in return.
My road rage angels have stood by my side many a time. I do not know up to when, but I guess I have mellowed.
I really do not see how LTO has issued licenses to drivers who cannot even read highway signs or even have the manners to follow, for instance, alternating lines.
We have read how bus and truck drivers have killed commuters because they “lost their brakes.” Most probably, lost their minds.
HELLO, CARS
Now that I am back on the wheel, maintenance expenses will probably be up.
I am sensitive to vibrations, or sounds in the car that drivers usually think normal.
In earlier years when I could squat, bend, and tiptoe without creaks on my joints, I cleaned my cars.
I may not be as OC and microscopically thorough as my kumare Bingbang Dulce of Race Motorsports, but I also used soft toothbrush bristles on singit-singit parts of my rides.
I rate my drivers as dugyut with the cars, but I do not want to lose sleep over this anymore.
I still wish to own a big sedan or another pick-up before I go. I find fun and freedom in hitting the road and the open skies.
The very first car that I bought with my own money, a Lancer coupe, was “broken-in” on a trip to Vigan in the days that it took at least 6-8 hours to reach Ilocos Sur.
A week after, I brought it to Bicol on a family trip.
The Galant or Kisig was tested on a vacation in Baguio, while the Nissan Frontier or Lakas to La Union. Though nowadays, engine “break-ins” are no longer necessary.
I give my cars names. And I do talk to them. Believe me, they respond.
The longest I’ve driven were with a rented car – from San Francisco to LA to Las Vegas and back.
But if I doubt still have the stamina to do the dream Pan Philippine trip -from Pagudpud to Zamboanga and back.
I might have to call in back-ups.
Nowadays when our appointments are full, we hire day drivers. One of them is one of our former messengers in the 90s, a shy guy who has had three wives and nine children.
Tama yata iyong kasabihan na ‘Basta Driver, Sweet Lover’.