Wingham We Have Liftoff!

41 years ago today Neil Armstrong uttered those famous words and stepped off the lunar lander to become the first man on the Moon. Rumour has it Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin spent four days in a cramped capsule just to be the first to win a round of golf where Tiger Woods had never played!

I was thinking about old Neil this morning as I headed out on my own 'Mission' – a short trip to Wingham to pick up a prescription for my wife.

Like Apollo 11 my mission today was fraught with danger, excitement and a spectacular view along the way. Unlike Apollo 11 my fellow travellers hadn't spent 10 years training, in fact some appear to have sent away for a mail order driver's license!

First encounter of a close kind was just opposite the Gas Bar on Clinton St. where, almost expected now, a car pulled out right in front of me then proceeded to travel southward at a goodly 22 kmh. The Toyota has great brakes by the way…

Thankfully my snail trek was short-lived as the person abruptly turned off at the 4th – sadly it appears their car is not equipped with either turn signals or brake lights and again the Toyota's brakes were tested.

The trip from the 4th to the 2nd was uneventful and I was even able to enjoy the rolling fields of corn flashing past. This time of year is one of my favourites in southwestern Ontario and the camera is usually beside me on the front seat in case I need to park the car and grab a quick shot.

Beyond the 2nd the trip turned nasty again, with yet another dreaded minivan intent on coaxing my wee car to Mach 1.0 with some well applied bumper hugging.  Again I was saved by the Huron county line where the 90k sign afforded the minivan a chance to zoom around me and disappear in a cloud of dust down the road – not before missing my rear bumper by about an inch!

The rest of the trip was relatively uneventful. I dropped off the prescription and walked over to Timmys. Being busy I expected a goodly wait for my Breakfast Sandwich, 2 Apple Fritters and Coffee, and I wasn't disappointed. But amazingly when I walked out the front door towards my car, there in the middle of the drive-thru lineup was the same minivan!

Which sort of brings me to the point of all this…

Life is short, the summer is beautiful, and if Neil Armstrong can make it all the way to the Moon, play a round of golf and return in one piece, could I PLEASE have at least ONE trip to Wingham without being run off the road, honked at or given the middle finger?  I am not an especially slow driver, but I do enjoy being here – here being upright without 6 feet of sod over my head.

Slow Down!! The few minutes you save by speeding may be the last few minutes you have on Earth!

Thanks!

Mark