Reflections on My Father’s Quirky Habit
Daniel writes: My father has this peculiar habit of capturing snapshots of the odometer in his car whenever it reaches certain numbers that he finds intriguing — and he does this while driving. Despite our constant reminders about the dangers of such distractions, he has devised a “solution”; he simply asks the passenger to take the photo for him. However, the numbers he chooses to commemorate aren’t even that remarkable. (Take, for instance: 121213.)
This quirky pastime can be amusing at first glance, but it also raises serious concerns. Imagine the moment he inadvertently collides with another vehicle or, heaven forbid, an animal, all while being preoccupied with this self-imposed ritual. In that unfortunate event, he’ll have an exact mileage reading to recall when he altered lives forever. It’s almost ironic that he missed the 121212 milestone by just a single click, serving as a stark reminder that time only moves forward. There’s beauty in pausing to appreciate life’s fleeting moments, especially when it comes to something as trivial as a number on a dashboard. Perhaps if a significant milestone approaches, he should consider pulling over—if the situation allows it. This way, he can take a picture not just of the odometer, but also of his surroundings, capturing his unique place in the world as he reaches that extraordinary 666,666 mark, or whatever number he deems worthy.
In the end, he may end up with two photos on his phone that are likely to gather digital dust, seldom to be revisited. It’s a humorous yet poignant reminder to find joy in the journey, rather than getting lost in the numbers along the way.
