NaPM April 15 2014

[Erthona]

The morning air was crisp, the sky was bright,
with the smell of pine in the air as I began my drive
up Wolf Creek pass's 8% grade in late summer.
The further up towards its 10,857foot peak,
the icier the road became,
until I could get no more traction.
I had to face facts,
despite the thousand foot
drop-off on one side,
and shear rock face on the other,
I was going to have to turn around.
I put it in reverse an began to slowly
back towards the side with the drop-off.
Just as I was horizontal in the road,
completely blocking both lanes
an 18 wheeler came barreling down towards me.
I did the only I could do, I stomped on the gas.
Miraculously a small aspen tree that I had not seen
caught me and kept me from going over the edge.
The truck driver, eyes wide
looking like he was demon possessed,
was blasting his loud horn
and laughing his ass off,
as he slipped by me by mere inches.

I limped back down the road,
passing the "Happy Valley Trailer Park"
and finally rolling into the town
of South Fork at the bottom of the pass.
I stopped in at the "Red Rock Inn"
had a couple of shots of Jack Daniels,
grabbed a six pack of Olies,
and checked into a motel room.
I did my best to go to sleep,
hoping not to wake
until my horn blasted nerves
had stopped their jangling;
so the next morning
I would be able to shave
without committing suicide.