Background: Originally published July 5, 2006. I had the pleasure of accompanying my older sister on a business trip to Alaska during the summer of 2006.
The new general manager of KOBI-TV was not at all pleased with what I wrote in this column, about my visiting Anchorage television stations. He thought that it reflected poorly on KOBI. From my perspective, everyone knows that television reporters in Medford do not stay in Medford. The trend of the trade is for everyone to move up the ladder and obtain jobs in larger cities. From my perspective, just because someone is putting in resumes in larger cities, does not mean that their current employment is a negative situation.
This is also one of my columns that has an interesting twist at the conclusion, after reading the content of the column itself.
Looking for a new job can be hazardous to your health. I was never prepared for the driving encounters that I experienced last week, while dropping off resumes in Anchorage, Alaska. I had just departed the CBS affiliate, channel 11, and was driving south toward Tudor Boulevard.
A slow-moving pick-up exited one of the side streets in front of me as I approached an intersection. Despite the fact that he violated three traffic laws that I could tell (not pulling into the closest lane of traffic, obstructing both lanes of traffic, and impeding traffic flow by moving at an extraordinarily slow rate of speed), I said to myself "so what?" This is Alaska. People move slower. I'm in no rush. When in Rome, do as the Romans. I'll just wait and see which lane he eventually settles in, and then I'll pass him.
When the pick-up eventually appeared to settle into the fast lane, even though he was still straddling the middle line, I pulled into the slow lane and passed him on the right. As I came neck and neck with the pick-up, I noticed both lanes merged into one, and so I sped up and passed him. The driver honked at me!
Thinking my problems were behind me, I had no idea the worst was yet to come. Recalling the sounds of the semi truck in the movie Duel barreling down on Dennis Weaver, I heard the slow-moving pick-up suddenly rev up and accelerate behind me, as the one lane of traffic reverted back to a two-lane road. There was only one car length between me and the car ahead of me, but that didn't stop the Duel driver from literally swerving over into my lane attempting to side-swipe me. It was the first time in my life that a driver intentionally tried to hit me.
I slammed on my brakes and honked to avoid a collision. The Duel pick-up pulled in front of me (in the fast lane) and nearly came to a stop. He then drifted over in the middle of the road blocking my moves as I attempted to pass him in the slow lane. Unfortunately for me (or perhaps fortunate?), the Duel driver wanted to turn on to Tudor Boulevard ahead, and he drifted over into a third lane marked for left turns. Even though I missed my turn, I proceeded straight through the Tudor intersection in an effort to get away from the insane pick-up driver.
Strange things continued to happen as I proceeded to my next stop. I was able to double back and found my back to Tudor Boulevard. Another Alaska driver tried to cut me off as two lanes merged to one. Even though I had already passed the point where the orange cones funneled two lanes into one, the driver honked at me because I wouldn't let her in!
As I approached Anchorage's NBC affiliate, channel 2, I could see satellite dishes in the distance so I knew I was in the right spot. However, I didn't see an NBC sign or even a peacock logo along the street. All I could see out front was a big sign that said Hooters. Apparently, channel 2 was located in the back and shared the same building with Hooters. I said to myself, "This must be the favorite station to work at in Anchorage."
Just a few more blocks down Tudor Boulevard, I came to my third and final stop, the ABC affiliate, channel 13. This station also shared a building with other businesses. There was no adult business sign out front, but I admired their tastefully landscaped berm out front: There was an ABC logo among the floral arrangements.
I didn't encounter any more wacky drivers in Alaska, during my four-day business trip that was paid for by my sister. Perhaps I should have viewed my reckless driving encounters that one day as an omen? Looking for work in Alaska is not in the cards for me?
I still had an enjoyable time. Because I was so busy sightseeing, I only had the opportunity to catch one newscast while I stayed at the Valley Hotel in Palmer. What was their lead story? Anchorage police had been stretched to the limit Friday night, the same day I dropped off resume tapes at the three Anchorage TV stations. There had been four separate incidents involving shootings and road rage drivers that day in Anchorage!
At least I hadn't been imagining things when I thought Anchorage drivers were out to get me!
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