by Ron Schecker

Created on: April 22, 2008

I have always been one who respects those wonderful folks who just so happen to drive cars that go much faster that any car I have ever driven in my life, and yet also have quite the dangerous job. But there was one night I will never forget for as long as I live.

It was back around 1996. It was nearly 4am in the morning, and I was coming home from my friend's club which was in Forest Hills, Queens. I lived at that time with my band mate/roommate in Carle Place Long Island. The trip there and back was roughly 15 minutes, traffic permitting. Now, back then, my hair was dyed blue-black, and I was, and still am, pretty pale, and was decked out in my crushed velvet shirt with the blackest of black jeans. And yes, dark Gothic tunes were softly streaming from my stereo.

Now I am ALWAYS a careful driver, so you can just imagine my surprise when I saw flashing lights in my rear view mirror. So without hesitating, I quickly pulled over and stopped my car.

"Good evening sir, may I see your driver's license and registration?"

"Of course", I said and handed them to the officer.

"Where ya coming from?" As I was telling him, he then asked me where I was going and as he did so, I saw a second car approach. Then a third...a fourth..a FIFTH! As you can imagine, I was thisclose to turning even whiter than I already was. "Where you headed, Ron?" I told him I was on my way home. He just nodded. Through my window, I could see my car completely surrounded, not like I could escape if I WANTED to, mind you.

Finally, I got the relief I was looking for, but didn't think so at that nano-moment: A SIXTH car came racing up, screeched to a halt, said something to the officers. Without blinking an eye, the officer says, "Ok Ron, safe trip home" and with that, walked away and sped off.

You can just imagine what was going through my mind: I sat there going: "Erm....HUH?!?!" I truly thought I was either a victim of a VERY cruel practical joke, or the victim of mistaken identity. And so after finally getting my heart started again and settling it down in my chest cavity, I proceeded to head home...shaking like a leaf caught in a hurricane holding on for dear life. I was so worked up that I was literally holding onto my steering wheel like a security blanket, white-knuckling the whole way home.

When I got in, my roommate was sleeping, so I had to wait until morning to tell him my ordeal, as I knew he would not believe me.

I sat in my bed, nearly sleepless, as the adrenaline was moving so quickly through

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