OPEN FOR VENTING
Monday, June 14, 2021
Idiots issued a license to drive can drive you crazy.
Have you ever had a bad day in traffic?
When some idiot cuts you off in a way that would typically only mildly annoy you – but that day, it’s just an ‘almost road rage’ event. For me recently, a culmination of several pre-driving angst elevating events: indignities of rude people in a crowded grocery store, a cranky phone call, an idiotic email from someone.
Not one of them worth swatting a fly over.
But, put together, they fueled my ‘open for venting’ valve …
Back to my being cut off in traffic; enraged – I sped up and wanted to get alongside that driver to show the proverbial finger and vent my rage. Finally, that moment came; I pulled alongside and made my gesture.
And then I realized the driver was someone I know, someone I like and would never want to offend.
Oops!
Fortunately, I was wearing my sunglasses, and they didn’t recognize me.
So that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Still, I fear one of these days someone is going to say, “Mark, did you not think I would recognize you?”
Giving someone the finger is rude. I rarely do it, and I should do it less, but how does one bridge the gap between frustration, anger, and civil discourse?
I resolved to get less fussed about idiots in traffic – and my solution, one I believe I can stick with, is to smile, with a little extra effort – I’ll smile and give them a full-handed five-finger wave of gratitude for not killing me.
Go ahead, pull any finger …