There’s some times when I wish I had a case of road rage. There are so many bad drivers who cut right in front of me without looking my way, or tailgate me so badly I think the paint’s coming off my back bumper. I want to angrily honk my horn, or “brake test” those guys tailgating me so they are forced to back off.
But I don’t, because meek/mild Bridget does no such thing when she’s plagued with a conscience that warns her something bad could happen.
I probably wouldn’t have even written about this had it not been for my last fireworks customer.
He pulled in the driveway with his girlfriend in his white SUV. He got out fo the car, already looking smug. “Got an out of state ID?” I asked him. In Pennsylvania--my state-- you need to be from out-of-state in order to buy something besides the ground spark fireworks.
“I’m a good friend of Eric’s,” he said, not fully answering my question. Eric I knew, but this was no title to be telling me about. And adding that you’re a “good” friend isn’t getting you much further either.
I told him simply, “It doesn’t matter who you are, you still need to be a resident of another state to buy anything but sparks.”
“Is your Dad around?” he tried. As if things would change.
“He won’t be able to sell to you either. It’s his rules. Actually, it’s the state’s rules.”
He retreated to his truck. Once inside he said something to his girlfriend I couldn’t hear--though I could somehow tell that it was a very rude comment about me. The guy back out of the driveway as fast as he could, spewing our newly placed gravel everywhere in his haste. He turned around and squealed onto the paved road.
I was steaming mad. I felt like this arrogant guy had just assaulted me or something. I daydreamed of getting in my car and following him…but I didn’t . My only move was to stand in the driveway as he did his turn around and salute him as he made his grand exit. I wished I actually wore the glasses I need for seeing long distance, so I could have gotten his licence plate number in case he was trouble again.
I stood on the steps of the back porch, stewing in my anger, turning my car key back and forth and back and forth…. Why didn’t I go after that guy? I asked myself, though knowing the answer already.
Road rage, understandably, is a very bad problem. Driving is dangerous enough, and getting angry and speeding off after some guy would’ve been the wrong choice.
“But it would have felt good,” I mused to my little dog as I walked back in the house.
Writing this now, I realize the triviality of getting mad at that guy in the first place, and how jumping into things without a second thought would have been such a stupid move.
he aint worth it
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I know EXACTLY how you feel. I live in Colorado, where its like a melting pot of every driving style in the country, so you get the stupidest drivers from all over in one area. It isn't pretty. Doesn't help when you drive a big old truck (1981) thats basically a block of steel on wheels, because you know if you brake check that tailgating @$$hole behind you, you'll have little more then a dent and a scratch or two in your paint, while his vehicle will end up being a big heap of smoltering, twisted scrap that could once drive. But I still have fun daydreaming about it when ever someone drves like that. >=)
Ha ha. That evil smiley at the end says it all. Isn't it nice to daydream?
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
Yes road rage is not the answer to all of everyone's problems. I feel like other bad driver's make you want to get road rage by the things they do. I am trying to get over road rage now . I get so tired of people cutting me off, getting in front of me , and trying to intimidate me because I have a small car and theirs is bigger.
My favorite is when on a 4 lane highway the right lane has a sign that says "right lane closing." And no one gets out of the right lane. Not one effing person. And then they make it to the point where the road closes and try to move over. But now, no one lets them in, because it's going to teach them a lesson or something. So we've got the asshats who couldn't move over a lane and the stubborn hosers who won't just let them in once it's too late to merge, and me. Hi! here I am in the back of the line waiting for everyone to get over their high and mighty selves so traffic can move again.
Everyone is a jerk. Including the people with whatever complex makes them feel the need to deliver justice by being just as much of a jerk as the people who couldn't follow the signs in the first place.
I guess I'm not one to talk. I'm the person driving down the middle of the two lanes so no one can make it to the end of the closed lane in the first place. Everybody HATES ME. They just don't realize I'm helping to make traffic flow. :-P
Don't even get me started on the asshole motorcycle drivers who drive down the shoulder because, for some reason, they are above traffic laws. All hail the almighty yamahas.
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Huh, so it's not just PA where people can't read those signs? Funny stuff. I don't know what's with these people. I merge right away so I don't have to worry about the jam in the right lane later on, but then you've got the people who just had to stay in that lane who either try to cut in front of you or stop traffic because they can't merge.
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No. Definitely not just PA. Although, I seem to remember it happening less in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, and more when I got into Illinois and Wisconsin. Maybe it's an East side thing? :-P
haha. I felt so angry just writing that comment that I turned it into an entry over on my regular blog :-P
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"haha. I felt so angry just writing that comment that I turned it into an entry over on my regular blog :-P"
That's actually not the first time I've heard that. You, Dani, lovenenvy, and others have gone on to write blogs because of comments on my blogs! It's not weird at all. I don't know how many times that I've commented on a blog and then decided to write a blog because of that.
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I don't know. You've never been in Denver during rush hour then. They are always redoing a section of the Interstate through there. And it seems that some one is always getting into a big accident during it too, even though you can never get above 10 mph.
That badge looks good on ya! ;) (read that in a smarmy voice)
Also, the Minnesota DOT did a study on that phenomenon once, and showed that traffic runs more smoothly if EVERYONE waits till the and of the lane to get over. It's called the "zipper effect." This also means that everyone who is already in the open lane must let a car in ahead of them. That is how the DOT intends for it to work. But apparently, no one knows that and everyone has a different philosophy, so it really just doesn't work at all.
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Thanks! It's still all very new, but I'm getting used to it. :-)
The zipper effect worked pretty well when I was in Germany. But... I think it may have been around longer there. Or people are just nicer, more patient, and just drive better. I don't know. :-P For some reason, it just doesn't work here. And it should. That's why I start yelling (because, you know, people can hear me) at the people in the lane not merging as well.
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Yeah, I get very upset at stupid drivers. I curse (quite loudly) at them, as long as it's just me in the car. makes me feel better :-)