Recent charges that a bus driver involved in a fatal accident might have fallen asleep at the wheel provoked a recollection of a near miss of my own many years ago.
After graduating from law school, I was in the process of relocating my family and household in Sarasota after nearly five years in Gainesville. I recall borrowing or renting a pickup truck to complete the collection of some items of our stuff from Gainesville, a shuttle trip over the 200 mile run back to Gainesville. I recall the difficulty in loading our monstrously heavy washing machine, unable to lift it the two foot or more to the back of the pickup until inspired by a recollection of a lecture about Archimedes, I lubricated a plank with soap and creating a slippery, inclined plane, the monster slid handily up into the truck bed. (A pre-MacGyver insight. At least it seemed so at the time.)
With little or no rest loaded our washing machine together with other furniture and unwisely decided I could complete the return trip without stopping for sleep, anxious to settle in and consolidate in our new, if dreadfully humble digs on Siesta Key.
Bored and tired I drove south on U.S. 41 or 441, I forgot which, on a bright sun shiny day, when in a moment of inattention I found myself overtaking a log-hauling truck, too fast and with barely enough time to avoid a probably fatal rear end collision with the protruding log. Slamming on the brakes with all I had I was thrown against the wheel only to snap wide awake on a totally empty roadway, in front of me. My subconscious had manufactured a dream scenario sufficient to scare me awake and remind me I had drifted off and driving on a busy highway was no place for a nap. Whether I took my own advice and sought a motel for a place to sleep or loaded on coffee at the next diner I can’t recall but the memory of that most appropriate dream has remained clear and vivid over the years.
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