Speed Demon and the Flying Carpet

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My car is three and a half years old now. All this while, I didn’t know that it could go only as fast as 185km/hr.

That’s a testament of the calm I was in during those years. I had even learned to drive within the speed limit sometimes. That’s not easy for a person who has a reputation of a Speed Demon.

It is not everyday though that I get to drive like that. I don’t like scaring the hell out of my passengers. And I really wanted to get rid of that reputation.

But last weekend was an exception. I was driving alone long distance. It was still dark in the early morning and the road was clear save for a few early birds. So I thought what good is the highway if I can’t fully enjoy it. Hey, I have to make up for the lost times when the highway turned into an extended parking lot.

With rock music blaring, my foot was heavy on the pedal. The speedometer climbed slowly but surely past 140, 160, 180 and darn!! 185 and no more!

How often does it happen that what we thought was enough for us turns out to be inadequate after all? We go through our days thinking this is the best that we can do, or the best we can afford given the limitations and circumstances.

I settle too easily into my comfort zone. I stop looking; or rather do not pause to question those limits and circumstances. Until one day that warm rug is pulled from under my feet. And I would struggle to keep my balance, arms flailing trying to grasp at anything I could lay my hands on.

Most times I got lucky. Friends or family would catch me and help me to solid ground again. I am still lucky this time round.

As the rug flew away in the wind, I tried to catch the fringes, but I sensed the ledge under my feet. Oooh…if I could just lean out a little more, maybe it wont leave without me, but I was afraid that if I lose my balance again, no one would be there to rescue me.

So I stepped back and watched the flying carpet disappeared into the deep blue sky. I realised then that my friends had brought me back to a field wide and green to the horizon.

In time, when my legs stop shaking, I will look into the horizon and take another step towards a life with limitless possibilities. I will find again the freedom to roam the earth, on foot or in new set of wheels that could go beyond 185.
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