Road Trip

I used to think I do that daily during residency when I was living about 20 miles away from the hospital. I still enjoy long drives, but the daily grind is a different story. That's why when I was about to begin my fellowship over two years ago, I decided to move, to be closer. Since then, the only time I'd log on my car's mileage was whenever I go visit my relatives in the southwest suburbs. Or that time when I drove to Indiana for an interview. My longest road trip wasn't logged in my car. It was a red two-door chevy that my college pal helped me chose when I left LA to go back to Vegas back in 2001.

I was given a choice to fly. I almost said yes because I like lounging in the airport (best place to people watch!). But I remember the last time I was in Michigan, when the flight itself was only about 30 minutes but the wait in the airport killed me. And since the trip was arranged last minute, all they could find to fly me back was to go through Minneapolis before going back to Chicago -- total time of travel: 8 hours! I kept thinking to myself then, I should have asked for a rental instead. So I declined the offer, and prepared my almost 7-year-old Nissan for the almost 4 hour trip. Google maps estimated it to be around 193 miles away. Unaccounted for is the time that might be added to get there is from the huge construction going on in the Dan Ryan Expressway.

It's foggy out. But it shouldn't be so bad. I'm driving with Jon Bon Jovi.

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