Driving Blind

As if living in Minnesota wasn't hard enough with the consistent days of below zero temps - now we have another challenge: driving blind. That's right, a new frustration has gripped me this first "real" winter in 5 plus years - the experience of driving in utter blindness as the frigid temperatures freeze the windshield fluid. Yes, the saying is true, "you don't know what you've got till its gone." I admit, I took that blue fluid for granted all these years - and now, driving in sub-zero temps, I realize what a total annoyance this ridiculous weather really is when I can't see two feet in front of me because my windshield is filthy.

I used to think I was a pretty unflappable and even tempered driver - sure I've had my moments of tension and anger when cut off or tail-gated - but on the whole, I'm usually pretty calm when behind the wheel (unless driving in Washington DC) - but other than that, I can hang with the best of them. However, that was then and this is now: without a doubt, my new arch-enemy that is sure to get the better of my temperament is this new problem of frozen fluids for the windshield.

I know that the fluid itself is not frozen, but somewhere from the tank to the windshield, there is some blockage occurring because when I request the services of the fluid to cover my dirty windshield, I get nothin'. I hit the button for fluid and instead of receiving a shower of spray I just get fervent wiping of nothing but the dirt and mud encrusted window - thereby making vision impossible. Couple this with bright sunshine in my face and I am literally driving blind. There is no difference between me and a blind person behind the wheel. I begin to freak out and squirm, trying to find that one tiny shred of clarity on the glass, usually to no avail. This is absolutely terrifying. To make matters even worse, I am on the freeway, so pulling over to assess the situation or pour some water on it is just as dangerous - I just have to buckle down, rely on faith and if I'm fortunate to be with someone at the time, trust their muddied vision as well as four eyes are better than two. So, as you can expect, I do not like driving blind. In fact - I dread getting in the car altogether now.

I've really been struggling to find the silver lining in this ongoing predicament. The only analogy I seem to come to time and time again is that of "living by faith, not by sight." (2nd Corinthians 5:7) Participating in a controlled blindfolded trust walk is one way to demonstrate the sheer blindness we encounter in faith - but driving blind?! In a car? Where one mistake could end it all? Yeah, I think I'll take the trust walk in the woods any day. But, I guess this just goes to show that whether we like it or not, sometimes all we can do in the end is pray to the Lord above that despite our gripping fears and justifiable anxiety about some dangers and risks, God is with us, guiding and protecting. But, somehow and some way, I'm always given just enough moisture or passenger assistance and coaching (thank you Rebecca) to clear a path of clean windshield, and I am able to get to where I'm going. And, God forbid something does go awry, I have to trust in God's comfort that He'll be with me then too.

Well, its back to the roads of life, driving blind and all. Perhaps I'm just the rookie Minnesotan here - so, if you're reading this and wondering aloud why I haven't done the obvious to alleviate this dilemma - PLEASE HELP ME. I am no stranger to asking for car maintenance assistance as many of you already know. This issue is at the top of the list - I'll take whatever advice I can get at this point. There is still a whole lotta winter left.

While I'm on the topic of driving, there is one more thing I'd like to include in this post. Remember my desire to learn how to drive a stick-shift? Done and done. I wouldn't say I'm an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I think my first lesson was a huge success - thank you Borna Albus! Let's just say that if you need a pinch hitter to take you home in your manual transmission automobile, you can count on me. My only stipulation is that your windshield wiper fluid works!

Skating in the New Year

I have ushered in the New Year in new fashion - by doing some new things (not technically firsts, but the first time in a long time anyway.) What, after all, says "New Year" like doing something different - something new and outside of the norm in the first hours and days of this clean slate that is 2009?

Saying good-bye to our New Years Eve tradition with our Richmond, VA friends was unusual, if not a little awkward - how will we adjust to a new state and climate? How can "the show go on" without our dear friends at our side to celebrate the arrival of the new year? Alas, we had to move on to something different, for there is just no replacing traditions and special friends, is there? So, for our first New Year's Eve in St. Paul, Minnesota - our first New Years Eve here in several years, we took to the most ubiquitous surface in this part of the country during this time of the year - the ice - for some ice skating. It should be noted that the idea was not our own, nor was it an idea I was most thrilled about because A) it is still REALLY cold here and B) I've only been on ice skates twice in my lifetime. Don't get me wrong, I was all about trying something new and different, and ice skating was on my list of "to-do's" from a blog post from last year - but I was not feelin' the ice skate donning in 3-5 degree temps. The other part of me, the 29 years and 11 months part, was kind of yearning for some chillaxing - you know, hangin' out in the comfort and coziness of home, maybe curling up with a book or movie with my wife, avoiding the public interaction and nightlife. However, being that I more than got my fill of chillaxing over the previous two weeks 0f my winter break from classes, I also knew that there was a hidden yearning for the fun and adventurous - as New Years Eve has traditionally been just the right event for bringin' out the wild n' crazy in yours truly.

After whining, complaining and searching for every excuse to back out of our ice-capade plans for the evening, the time finally had arrived and there was no jumping ship - no, I was going ice skating - no if's and's or but's. I was nervous and anxious about ice skating because I had only been on skates twice before - and in those two brief occasions, I had never actually learned how to skate - it had been more or less just a walk around the ice rink - wearing skates. Sure, I remember getting my jollies on a few slides here and there, but there was much more falling and holding onto people and walls for dear life. Back then my mantra was "I can't do this" - and alas, I never did and hadn't tried again since. But now, I was joining three other established skaters who assured me they would assist in my teaching and give me a generous learning curve - they also said this with a snicker and a giggle for they knew what I'd probably look like on the ice being the novice that I was. All in good fun I said to myself, even though the thought of face-planting on the ice in front of dozens of people sent a little chill up my spine.

Like most things I've dreaded in my life, it turned out to be much easier than I built it up to be. Taking one thing at a time, I got the hang of it much better than I thought I would. There was little, if any, falling in the first thirty minutes. I watched my wife as she scooted around the ice - picking up a few techniques here and there. I felt and looked awkward no doubt, but I wasn't terrible - I could move forward, turn and do all at a reasonable pace. The most frustrating part was the learning process - hearing something like "weave like this" or "do this" simply wasn't cutting it for me - I needed specifics and details, body position and movement instructions - do I bend my knees? Should I lean forward? What do I do with my arms? - watching someone else do it with ease was not helpful (and my instructors were made aware of this several times.) Once I got going after those first thirty minutes or so, I was ready to step up my game a little and take some more risks - which of course resulted in the much dreaded face-planting and falling. But, unlike the first go-round all those years ago, I wasn't ashamed at falling - it was merely a consequence of the risk-taking. The best fall (and by "best" I mean most embarrassing and funny) was when I tried to make a sharp turn - and couldn't stop turning. I probably turned in a tightly woven circle about five times before I finally collapsed because I couldn't stop - man, I would pay to see that if I could.

Over all, I had a great time - there, I said it! I put up quite the fight that indicated to my co-skaters (Ryan, Siobhan and Rebecca) that I was going to have a miserable experience - but alas, I am excited about the next opportunity to get on those stilts - er - skates and give it another go. Day one of 2009 and I was already checking something off my list of things to do in Minnesota. In fact, within the first five days of this new year, I have experienced four new "things to do in Minnesota:" ice skating, ice scraping the car windshield, going to a Vikings game at the Dome and learning the Hebrew alphabet. Ok, the Hebrew is a stretch, but it is new and I have learned it - so it counts in my book. Happy New Year indeed!