The real show is in watching the trailer
SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO watch a full movie in the summer. I happen to prefer watching trailers.
The other day was a prime example why. I was fishing for bass on a big local lake when, suddenly, it started raining and was threatening to rain even harder. In situations like this, I always worry about the weather ruining my perm, so I bee-lined for the boat launch, which was a straight run about a mile across the lake. Since I was in my little tin boat powered by my 4-horse, I estimated I’d get there in 6 to 8 hours.
Luckily, I had entertainment on hand to keep me occupied. You see, there was this guy at the launch, trying to back up his trailer. Apparently, he was very new at it.
First, he jackknifed left. Then, he jackknifed right. At one point I believe he decided to take a roundabout route by actually doing a u-turn and backing the trailer away from the water in a direct route through the woods.
If you have never
watched something like this before, let me tell you it is riveting stuff. You get drawn right into the story and you feel for the characters involved. By the 123rd attempt, I was actually rooting for the fellow. I laughed, I cried, and stood and cheered him on when he somehow narrowly missed my SUV and trailer as well as several other vehicles. As trailers go, this one was a real cliffhanger too. And I mean that in the truest sense – at one point I thought he was going to back it off over a small cliff. Honestly, Helen Keller would have done a better job.
In short, the suspense was killing me and I couldn’t wait to see how it turned out.
But I’ll have to though.
You see when I got within 150 yards of the ramp, he saw me and drove forward and parked along the side of the ramp. When I landed, he walked towards me said, “I’m trying to decide whether to leave my boat in the water and go fishing or take it home. Think this storm is going to pass?”
My immediate thought was that by the time he actually got his trailer in the water, autumn would pass. But I have learned, in situations like these, some things are best left unsaid.
“I guess you need to use the ramp now,” he said. “So I’ll wait.”
“You don’t have to,” I replied. “There’s plenty of room for three trailers on this one.”
“I’ll wait!” he said, rather tersely.
So I backed up my trailer, loaded my boat, secured everything and drove up the ramp where it was presumably safe. Then I pretended to check my trailer and waited to see how it all ended.
That man, however, remained in his car and refused to back up in front of an audience. So, I put my popcorn away and drove off. For all I know, he’s still there.
I’m hoping those folks who create reality shows catch onto this, because in my experience, this was far more entertaining than anything the Kardashians have ever done. Heck, if you could get the Kardashians to back up boat trailers, you might even turn their show into something that approaches entertainment. I could see it now, Backing up with the Kardashians. It makes perfect sense. Heck, I hear they like to show off their back sides anyhow.