[blog] [photos] [random post] [about/contact] [quotes] [other]

the other side

[5 minutes in, the Driver speaks to the man in the backseat:

>So you’re headed to coconut grove? Nice area.
>>Yeah. Nice neighborhood, can’t complain.
>Yeah. It’s further south right?
>>Yup, it’s nice not to have to take the I-95. The “Die-95”.
[the driver chuckles.
>You know, I was here when they finished the first section of the I-95 down here. Born and raised here.
>>Really?
>Yeah, I remember my dad getting me into his truck, and us taking the I-95 for the first time. There were no stops, we could go so fast, I remember – I remember the wind rushing into the back.
>>Wow…
>Actually, now -- I think that might be my first clear memory…back then the I-95 was just a section. I saw them connect it together, saw them put the turnpike in.
>>Those are some big projects.
>Yeah they were.

[silence for a while. talk turns to the recent storms.

>You heard about what happened up in Asheville?
>>Yeah, terrible, terrible news. Such a lovely place.
>Yeah I have friends up there…they just couldn’t handle that much rain all at the same time…
>>Yeah, heard they’re on clay too which doesn’t drain well. But you'd think it'd run off.
>Yup. You know I spent 5 years out in that area. For a job.
>>Sounds great…
>Yeah, lived in the middle of nowhere. Had a fresh water hole in the back…
>>You had to drill a well?
>Yeah exactly. There was nothing out there at the time. On 3 acres of land…if you heard leaves rustling, you got scared…
>>Bears?
>Yeah I never saw a cat. But they have bears up there.
>>Wow. Must’ve been beautiful.
>Yeah, it was. I miss it.

[the man in the backseat looks at his phone. the Driver drives.

[they discuss some other topics, and exchange recommendations. the Driver reminisces…

>>This is good here, thanks for the ride. That was very smooth.
>Sure thing. Thanks for giving an old man like me a job.
[from outside the car] >>Just got to get my bags from the back.
>Oh yeah. Here…[pops the trunk]
>>Thank you. See you up in North Carolina sometime.
[laughing] Yeah…that’d be nice. See you there. Or –
>>[?]
>See you on the other side.

[the man collects his bags and, without a word, walks into the house.