Joel - Just Taking it Easy

I like being a good teacher. Whatever the subject, if I know something, I like to help. Probably because I remember those who taught me and helped me when I needed it. When I was really thirsting for knowledge, I always appreciated those who took the time to teach. Like when I was trying to learn to play guitar, I didn't think I could find anyone to teach me. There are about three people who did. And I will be forever grateful. And when I was learning how to drive, there was Joel.

I don't remember his last name, but I will never forget Joel and what he taught me. We were working together at a tire shop. I was about seventeen and he was about thirty. We lived only one block apart, so we decided to carpool to work together. Each day we would take turns driving since we each had a car.

I thought I was a good driver then, even though I had only been driving for about one year at that time. But Joel had a way of making me realize that I had a lot to learn. He knew that I wanted to be a truck driver. And he seemed to know a lot about driving. He was full of information about driving. And I was soaking it up.

He would ask "why are you accelerating toward a red light?" Even if the red light was a block away, he would say "take your foot off the accelerator". And he would ask "if there is a red light ahead, then what's the point?" And he would say "I only use my brakes about ten times all the way home. And you use yours about two hundred times. If you keep driving like that, you're going to have to replace your brakes every month."

I was only seventeen then and I would argue "you drive like an old man, I want to get there, today." But he would patiently say something like "you can only average twenty seven miles per hour around here anyway, so why waste your energy?" Deep inside, I knew he was right. But it just felt weird letting off the accelerator when the red light was so far ahead, even though I knew I would have to stop anyway.

And even on the highway, when there were no traffic lights, I would wind up stopping in the stop-and-go traffic and he would say "you were following too close to the car in front of you, you shouldn't have had to stop." And he told me that if I stopped on the highway, I was the one causing the traffic jam. In the beginning, I argued with him and his comments annoyed me. Even though I knew he was right, I knew that I wouldn't actually change my driving habits. I needed to feel like I was getting somewhere, even if it was just to a red light or a traffic jam.

One day when we both had our cars at work, we decided to race home. He said that he wouldn't go over twenty seven miles per hour. And that I could go as fast as I wanted to. And he would still beat me. Well, I couldn't resist the challenge. And I couldn't wait to see the look on his eyes when he pulls up and sees me sitting there. When we got off work, we stood by our cars and he said "on your marks, get set, go". And he casually strode to his car, as I dove into mine, started it and threw it in drive with one fell swoop. I was squealing around the first corner when I looked back and saw him shaking his head "no" as he watched me. I was gone. I'd show him, that a little extra effort can pay off. I zigged and zagged every lane that would get me twenty feet closer. And when I got caught at a red light, I would just make a right on a red and keep it rolling. I refused to stop. When I saw a traffic jam, I would cut through a side street and keep it rolling. I was making good time too, or so I thought.

I made it home about thirty seconds sooner than Joel did. I was sitting on the hood of my car trying to look like I had been waiting for half an hour. "What took you so long" I asked. He slowly parked and then walked up to me. He said "you're sweating, you must have worked very hard". And I agreed that I did. I drove a hard bargain, then I confessed "you were only thirty seconds behind me. Did you really only go twenty seven miles per hour?" And he said "yes. You dont see me sweating do you?" And it was true. I was sweating and he wasn't. He said "you're working too hard". And once again, I knew he was right.

Then one day about two years later, I had an accident. It wasn't my fault. Someone came onto my side of the road and hit me head on. And guess who I hadn't seen for a long time, but just happened to be walking by? Right. Joel walked up and said "I dont believe it. Didn't I teach you anything?" I was a bit dazed when I saw him "it wasn't my fault Joel. You did teach me quite a bit. I know I was a slow learner at the time, but really, I am a safe driver now and this wasn't my fault." I explained what happened and he could see I was right. Then he said "well I am watching you. So you better be carefull whenever you drive." He walked away. And I never saw Joel again.

I was very fortunate to have known Joel. If I ever do see him again, I will tell him so. And I'll tell him that thanks to his advice, I learned to be a safe driver at a younger age than most. So if you have a Joel, that is, a friend who is trying to help you learn something, tell him that you appreciate it. Everybody doesn't have a Joel, I know. I was lucky. If you need a Joel, I'll be yours. You can find me at www.bigcitydriver.com.

Ken Skaggs

1. Understand Traffic Waves
2. Prevent Traffic Jams
3. Stay Calm
4. Do The Math
5. Be Predictable
6. Time Traffic Lights
7. Expect the Expected
8. Compensate for the Ignorant
9. Teach Others
10. Make Sure an Accident is Never Your Fault
Read more

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*Old Dominion Freight Line
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