I Fell In Love With Being The Passenger. (EYE SPY RED)
"I spy with my little eye, something red. Slow to fast, it to moved ahead. Past my window it sped. I'll never forget the picture it left in my head.
The Red Car Outside The Window.
When people find out that I don't drive they are often confused. They can't conceptualize that I no longer have interest in physically being in control of where I am going, because that is what they believe. They are under the impression that I can't go where I want, when I want to go, because I am not the driver. This is not true. A combination of trauma and my mother's dedication to driving me around everywhere, helped fuel my love for being a passenger. Even from the back seat with the car in park I have curated a full experience with cars.
The Back Not Front
My journey with cars is more than just getting to my destination. My experience doesn't include sitting in the driver seat, cranking up the engine and checking my mirrors before pulling out. It also doesn't include the confidence I've heard you get when you're driving down an open freeway. My journey in the back seat began when I was a child and we would play the game "I Spy."
1 of 1 In The Parking Lot
I spy with my little eye, something red! Bright like strawberries in the summer sun. I see something that is one of one."
The first to click my seatbelt I sat up straight, eyes wide. Ready to spot the most significant pieces of machinery my city had to offer before my other 3 siblings. The adrenaline rushed through my veins as we drove past homes and parking lots filled with cars. I had the opportunity spot the conventional fancy BMW or Benz, but I couldn't keep my eyes off the color red. It showed up in all shapes and forms becoming my target.
Backgrounds Build Experiences
As I outgrew adolescent backseat games that same excitement to experience the ride, rather than control it, grew. As I got older I fancied blasting music through my ear buds and looking out the window, imagining my eyes as a camera capturing every red car in sight.
What I used to keep myself occupied would shape the way I view travel as a whole. My ability to improve my experience in the car now helps me as an adult, even past my history with car accidents.
We Live Within Red
The color red radiates a strong and powerful energy. It's not only a commanding color that alerts us to stop but also encourages us to go. We use sirens to alert others. The color red has the power to quickly grasp one's attention and that is exactly what it did to me.
Boring car rides no longer existed. If I chose to stay awake and look out the window the color red provided me with the opportunity to have fun and enjoy an almost mandatory task.
Even now as an adult whether I'm on the bus or train, I still enjoy looking out the window and pondering on all the fun memories I made with my siblings.
The Infamous Red Jeep
I spy with my little eye, something red, owned by a guy. With seats that smell of cheeseburgers and large fries. It comes with four wheels and an extra for supply.
After a long day of running errands and spotting what seemed like every red car in the city of Charlotte, I growing up I could always count on the most important red car waiting in the driveway.
Until one day it wasn't there anymore.
[This piece is from an assignment I did for my photojournalism class.]