The Wandering Man – Change: Friends and Tires

by erik@localeben.com
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Tamon Mark UttechBy: Tamon Mark Uttech

How are you?  “Fine!” is the best answer, but not always.  Happy belated birthday; 60 is a milestone age.

I saw you in a dream a few nights ago.  I wondered where the surprise dream came from.  It has already been years since we have had any type of communication, even with all of the available technology!  Why should you suddenly appear in a dream pitching a tent on my front lawn?  And the spot you chose to pitch your tent does not really exist.  There is a rather tall dead tree stump and a burning barrel in that spot.  Everything in a dream may be a symbol.  In my dream, though I was surprised, I did not mind.

“In your life, you’ll change friends too,” my father told me, “just like you change tires.”

I changed a tire last week, and it became a wandering adventure.

“Go to Weber’s Tires in East Bristol,” someone told me. “It’s cheap and reliable, and everyone goes there.”

“How do I get there?” I asked.

“Google it” was the irritating answer I got from most people, as if no one believed in a map anymore.

I had a county map so I thought I wouldn’t have any trouble.

“The trick is to find Highway V,” someone else said.

Well, I was familiar with Highway VV, since I drove it to work everyday, and VV went right by the Sweet Cemetery, which is a Bristol cemetery, so I figured I already knew the general area, the perimeter so to speak.  On my county map it showed VV running right to V, seems simple enough.  It is always easy until you get out there – there is all manner of rural roads and farms, and lo, Bristol also has an East Bristol, so how big is the town anyway, or is there more than one? 

I tried meandering, which is another word for wandering. Somehow I got to Weber’s Tires in 10-15 minutes.  In an additional 15 minutes, I had a new tire and figured I would be home soon.  I did not really have to be anywhere, so I enjoyed the drive, enjoyed the confusion, and like an ordinary man, refused to bother with the map anymore.

A full 30 minutes later I pulled into my driveway.  How did I get there?  I really do not know, but the new tire claims to be good for 40,000 miles. 

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