Winslow Junker

The mind is a marvelous thing. I'm not talking about any sort of transcendant mind - the place where mysteries dwell and our highest values live, where there is no gap between knowledge and action. I'm talking about the chatterbox there in the passenger seat, always at me about one thing or another.

Slow down. Speed up. Watch out for the bicycle! Turn ahead, don't miss it. Are you sure you want this client? Bugger the interview, let's just go home and live on peanut butter [whatever that means] . . .You're following too close. You're following too far. Are your brakes still working? Both hands on the wheel! Is that a cop? Did you remember your breath spray? . . .

Of course he's just looking out for my safety and well-being. Unfortunately, life isn't always about safety and well being. Sometimes it's about facing the unknown, taking a risk. Give that nattering mind his way and I'd be sitting in the driveway, impoverished but risk free, going r r m m - r r r m m m m and pretending to shift gears once in a while. I ask myself, Is that what I want my life to be about?