Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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THE HIGHWAY — I can distinctly remember my first babysitter. Her name was Vicky and she was the best. Both my parents worked full time and I wasn't yet a preschooler. So, every morning my mom would drive me to Vicky's and I'd spend the day playing and having a grand old time.
There are a few things I remember vividly about her house. One was the old rotary phone she had. I asked to call my mom at work all the time because it had a lot of zeros in the number and I loved watching the rotary go all the way around. The other was Amber. She was a blonde-haired girl my age and she was my first crush. The last was Vicky's jack-in-the-box.
It was a blue and red tin box with streaks of yellow. I remember turning the crank and hearing that music play. I'd do it slowly because I knew that clown with the jester hat and long nose was going to pop out. Regardless of how prepared I was, I jumped every single time. I'd steel myself and say, "You're not going to jump this time, John. Don't embarrass yourself in front of Amber."
But no matter how hard I tried, I would jump when that top popped and that jester came flying at me.
This video is my new jack-in-the-box. This video is a couple of years old and was captured in Moscow, Russia. A dashcam shows the mayhem that ensues as a piece of metal is thrown from the other side of the freeway and directly into the windshield of the car.
Thankfully no one was hurt, but no matter how many times I watch the video, I jump when the debris hits the glass. I even see the thing fly into the air and hurtle toward the car. I see that it's about to make impact, but my heart still jumps when contact is made.
All I can say is, Amber wasn't impressed with me then and she wouldn't be impressed with me now.
Have You Seen This?
When halibut attack
A spearfishing trip off the Kenai Peninsula earlier this year was particularly memorable for free diver Chris Pollack. He'd already bagged three fish in the 100-pound range when an aggressive halibut decided to turn the tables.
