So that's why they call it an Escape

In February I was forced to buy a new car because my Subaru broke down and repairing it cost too much. After very short deliberation (a day) I ended up getting a F0rd Escape. It's a cute little SUV loaded with features: sunroof, heated seats, satellite radio, power everything... and these really cool LED lights that light up the floor and cup holders. It's my favorite extra. I call it my Escape from reality, especially in the middle of the day. Good place for a quiet moment and lunchtime nap. Nice.

So on Friday evening, I was driving on Hillcrest to the movies in Plano. As I approached the Mapleshade intersection, the light turned yellow and I had to make a choice: slam on the brakes or gun it thru the light. Traffic was light... so I gunned it. As I crossed the intersection, the bright red glare caught my eye. Hmmm.

Now, that area of Mapleshade (East-West) and Hillcrest (North-South) just east of Hillcrest has literally nothing.


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It's a fairly new divided 2 lane road through undeveloped fields, and has a slight curve... the perfect place for a speed trap. I've seen plenty of cops with their radar guns waiting for someone to go over the 35 speed limit because 50 seems more appropriate; it's not like there's people or cross traffic or driveways or cross streets.

So as I pass through the intersection basking in red afterglow I think, "I sure hope there's not a cop there." I check my rear-view mirror. I check again. Safe. I check again. Safe. I'm basically looking more behind me than in front. I look forward and back again. Uh-oh. Flashers.

As Hillcrest gently curves around to the right, I can barely see flashing lights behind me. Is that for me? Nah... couldn't be. My adrenaline pumps and it's quick decision time. If it IS for me, do I dare try to hide and outrun cop? Is that wrong?

I look forward and see a turn just ahead and make a quick right. Crap, a dead end. But then, right there, there's a turn into the tree-lined partially hidden driveway of the N. Texas Tollway Authority. Heart beating and hands shaking I stop the car. Did I actually just do that? Did I really outrun a cop?

Common sense says no, he wasn't after me. Probably some speeder on Mapleshade. Totally coincidental. But there will always be a part of me that believes I Escaped.