the safety of the car

The sun will brush its fingers at the glass,
But all I feel is warmth.
The angry people beep their horns,
But all I hear is music.
The job I’m driving to is killing me inside,
But all I do is sing.
And I’ve got too many bills to pay this month,
But in my car those threatening envelopes
Flutter from the open windows on a motorway,
A flurry of the paper snow
That swings us down to epic lows.
I finished work early today as it was the final day of term. It was lovely to jump in my car in the daylight hours and get home before I had to turn my headlights on.
But what was more satisfying was putting the radio on and listening to Jeremy Vine. That sounds a bit sad, but I do have my reasons.
I used to work in the afternoons from 1-6pm and on my way to work I would listen to Jeremy Vine. It was during the time immediately after I left a really awful job and the relief after leaving it was immense.
After having a really tough time, I felt like I had been caught in a really soft cloud and somehow Jeremy’s voice has become synonymous with relief; hearing it makes me feel like I’ve just been allowed to take a deep breath after having been forced to go without air for far too long.
It was only as I drove home today that I remembered just how relaxed I felt in those days. Perhaps it’s also because I feel like I’m gasping for breath after the trauma of my first term teaching?!
Much Love
Rachel xx