Copyright © 2000

Porsche Club of America Out For A Spin January, 2000 Bruce Corwin Bruce968@PorscheNet.com

As I begin my third year of authoring a column for the NOR’EASTER, it has occurred to me that I have enjoyed sharing some interesting, informative and entertaining stories with all of you. But at some point every good journalist needs to share some very personal stories from his life. It can be uncomfortable to spill your guts in front of thousands of people, but we’ re all friends and fellow club members here. So here it is.
 
Occasionally people ask me how I remain so calm and relaxed during stressful situations.  When they do, I think back to a turning point in my life. Interestingly, my father had a parallel experience about 30 years earlier. I remembered this lesson of life from when I was a young boy and was able to ask Dad to tell it to me again when he was losing the fight with cancer and we knew time was short. Here's the true story of two young men, joined by blood, but separated by time. Each faced with the same critical decision, but coming up with different solutions.
 
Chestnut Hill, New York, 1959. It was Monday morning and Jack Corwin, woke up late. He was working at a highway construction site doing survey work. It was a hundred-mile drive and looking at the clock, Jack didn't know if he could make it in time.
 
Salem, Massachusetts, 1986. Jack's son Bruce was working 60 hours a week developing computer software. His wife was pregnant with their first son and was bedridden due to complications. Bruce was running late and needed to drive to Framingham where he was taking the final courses to complete his college degree.
 
Jack got dressed as quick as he could, grabbed a bite to eat and kissed his wife goodbye. It was early and the kids were still asleep. Jack jumped into his car, a 1957 Pontiac station wagon with a fire-engine-red paint job and a big V-8 engine. He sped off down the road.
 
Bruce stopped by the apartment after work, grabbed a sandwich and his books and kissed his wife goodbye. He jumped into his car, a black 1984 Chrysler Laser XE Turbo, and sped off down the road.
 
They drove fast, engines roaring, tires squealing through the curves. The frustration of slower traffic causing the blood pressure to rise. On the highway now, a chance for speed, a chance to make up some time. The right foot pressing on the accelerator. Gauges showing RPMs and speed increasing.
 
Swerving around slower cars. Sweaty hands clamped on the wheel, knuckles white, jaw clenched. They could feel the stress boiling within them and became aware that this level of stress was not good. They each asked themselves the same questions. "Does this make sense? Is this worth it?"
 
What to do? The right foot eased off slightly from the throttle while each driver pondered the question. This was a realization, a turning point in life. What is important? Which path to take? How to deal with stress?
 
Jack looked at his watch and realized that he hadn’t saved much time by driving fast. He hesitated, then his right foot lifted. The car slowed. He took a deep breath and relaxed.
 
Bruce thought about the stress that he was feeling. He realized that feeling stressful wasn't making him go any faster. If he was trapped behind a slower car or stuck at a stop light, that was out of his control and not worth getting uptight about. He switched the radio to a more mellow station, took a deep breath and relaxed. The tension melted away, having been replaced by a calmer outlook on life. Feeling much better now, his right foot pressed down hard on the accelerator, the turbo wailing as the black car screamed off into the dark night.