Feb 16 2007
I Don’t Talk When I Drive
I was driving a friend home when she said to me, “You don’t talk when you drive.”
I was puzzled because we had been talking to each other during the ride.
“Everyone I know seems so angry when they drive,” she explained.
“And…?” says me, eyes on the road.
“So they are always talking to the other drivers, calling them names,” she finished.
“Oh,” I said.
“You are so … calm.”
I had no idea. Then I thought about when I’d been a passenger. Many people DO swear or mutter at the stupidity of other drivers. Many people are tense and angry when behind the wheel.
I travel. I travel a lot. I have done some whacko driving maneuvers due to being unfamiliar with the roads. It’s given me some sympathy towards other drivers. I don’t assume they are doing this on purpose.
I also realize that I could either be an angry and tense driver or I could accept that most drivers were impolite tailgating jerks. Or clueless. Or The Center Of The Universe (TCOTU). Or blind. Or lost.
I chose not to be angry.
I chose this image of The Hulk because it:
- Illustrates what happens to some people when they are drivers.
- I was a fan of The Incredible Hulk. Ms. Q is big on misunderstood heroes.
- I was a fan of Bill Bixby. Yow! “The Courtship Of Eddie’s Father”, “The Magician”, “The Incredible Hulk”
Sounds familiar. Giving enough to keep the conversation flowing but not enough to lose focus on the road.
I’ll talk with passengers if I have any and they want to speak but what I don’t do is “talk” with the other drivers on the road.
I think we’ve all be a passenger where the driver is telling the car in front to speed up or pull over or signal for %%## sake!