Everyday...

everyday i take the same route to work through some back streets to avoid traffic before sitting on a bridge and finally letting the horses fly on the ole interstate. and everyday i see the same mid-60s man sitting in his older pick-up truck taking a nap with the car running before heading into work. some days, if i'm running a little bit late i spy him getting out of his pick-up and heading into work, but most days he's got his head back on his headrest, eyes closed, taking in the last bits of his morning slumber. usually i worry about carbon monoxide poisoning (in fact the first time i witnessed his actions i almost pulled over thinking he had died in his car. secretly i wonder if it was my ploy to secure my 10 minutes of fame on my local news. "lady revives man from car outside workplace"). lately, i've taken to pondering what it is that compels him to nap in the mornings in his car outside his work. i've developed quite a little story about his life and i believe that he has a wife at home who always wears an apron and pantyhose and makes things like quiche for breakfast. i think she nags him a lot (mostly to do things around the house...rake the leaves, take out the garbage, etc.) and i think he's tired of it. tired of the fact he's been married to her for 30 years and every year gets a little more naggy, not less. so i think he leaves early for work everyday so that he can enjoy 20-30 minutes of piece, alone in his car, listening to his radio and catching up on his last few zzzzs. and, sometimes, i think he's probably on to something. maybe that's the secret to a successful relationship...