by Fred
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I really needed this one, what with the funk I’ve been in lately. I was zoned out and driving home, watching the tire on a trailer in front of me, for the few seconds before it blew out. The sight was beautiful and I watched all of it: first, an huge exhale of air kicked up dust on the surface of the road. Then a plum-sized chunk of rubber shot up and out and banged into the front of my car. Then another piece ripped off, the size and shape of a bat. Then the tire seemed to uncoil into a single snake that slithered away hurriedly, and then the trailer was riding on a rim.

I’ve only ever watched a tire come apart immediately after the blowout. I’ve never watched it unfold from start to finish. And just as interesting was my inner dialogue: you can see now why people believe they have premonitions. While my mammalian brain was scratching its goatee and remarking on the aesthetics (“what sublime images!”) my reptilian brain was trying not to freak out (“possible danger! brake!” “imminent danger!”). Those two reactions were so divergent that the alarm seemed to go off before the the pretty pictures showed up, meaning it seemed I had predicted it just an instant before.

But of course I didn’t. That would be ridiculous.

Speaking of the reptilian brain, are you too young to have seen the Lizard King live? So am I: