I’m fortunate. I live in a city where the sun shines all year round. The flowers bloom. The air is clear (well, maybe not all the time but one can dream). And people are generally friendly, until …
Well, yes, let’s start with the road. We’ll get back to the friendly people later. The road is our highway to freedom. No need to hibernate indoors when you have any destination at your fingertips via your car. Sure, you can take the bus, subway, or taxi, but I’m talking real freedom where you have full control of just jumping into your vehicle and deciding when and how you’ll get there.
Before I moved into the part of town that I now live in, I used to enjoy a good drive to … somewhere, anywhere, in fact. I liked going out and living. I still enjoy being out and about but something’s changed. I now live in an area where the attitude of the drivers is intense. Yes, intense, I say. They seem to think they’re either invincible or James Bond. In fact, probably both. A driving nightmare for anyone with any common sense.
Ironically, this nightmare doesn’t start behind the wheel for me. It starts right in my own neighborhood where people don’t seem to understand that it is in fact a neighborhood where people, let alone families with children, live. On the positive side there are a few careful drivers, as there should be, but on the flip side … well, all I can say is it is madness.
Before I cross this small street or pull my car out I have to very carefully look around for any cars. A normal procedure for anyone except that in my neighborhood there are cars that seem to think it’s the Indy 500 racetrack and so the odds of them suddenly appearing, screeching, swerving, and flipping you off are quite high.
OK, so now I’ve made it behind the wheel of my car. I do the necessary, common sense procedures to get started and I’m on my way. In all fairness, not everyone is a maniac and there are times when I can actually enjoy the driving experience, but if I’m not on my guard …
So here I am cruising along—with the flow of traffic—then I look in my rear view mirror … hmmm, I don’t remember attaching another vehicle to my rear bumper! As I make eye contact with the driver behind me I restrain myself from flipping the bird—doesn’t really get anyone anywhere anyway—instead, I telepathically ask, “Excuse me, did anyone invite you to snuggle up to my rear end? I don’t think so! Back off!”
Nine times out of ten the person will act perturbed and swerve around in front of me as if I’m in the wrong. My immediate response is to pray for the person, “Lord, bless that person … with a brain.” Okay, I should be more merciful, but when I see the stupidity of those with the potential to cause an accident I can’t help but shake my head and wonder where theirs is.
Honestly, if you’re tailgating, speeding, and swerving around other drivers, what on earth does that say about you? Does dimwit come to mind? So, you’re in a hurry and running late. Big whoop! Manage your time better. Nothing is worth the carelessness people display out on the roads. When it comes down to it, you may end up at your destination a few minutes before you would have if you hadn’t tailgated, sped, and swerved your way all over the road. A few minutes, for goodness sakes. Not to mention I’m sure you’re all wired up now because of it. Was it worth it?
Other charming acts of these “I am Tarzan, hear me roar” driver are:
