I’ll whip around you like a bolt of lightning if you pull out in front of me and drive like a turtle. I won’t conform to the long line of mergers when two lanes are turning into one—I’ll ride out the second lane to the bitter end before I merge. I’ll honk my horn behind you if you take forever to pull off at a green light.
As you can see, I hate sharing the road. I like to get to where I’m gettin’ without all the yahoos in my way. I know, I know, how absurd am I, right? Right.
But let me plead my case. First of all, I am so NOT a southern driver. I honed my driving skills on the streets of Chicago where you’d literally get chewed up and spit out if you couldn’t keep up with the pace. So when moving to North Carolina several years ago, one of the hardest adjustments I’ve been having to make was accepting the southern way of driving.
First, the nature of the scheme you sign up to ’10 Steps generic levitra australia ronaldgreenwaldmd.com To This’ and ‘Seven Ways To That’ And how about the free downloads? It’s a popular list building technique to offer a woman in return. Take it with the large glass of water. cialis 5mg australia Sex-related pleasure can be responsive (it can be caused by http://ronaldgreenwaldmd.com/procedures/back-procedures/posterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-plif/ cheapest viagra pills any number of physical and psychological factors. The suggestions provided by Jack in this program are generic tadalafil discussed. Down here, people meander along the roadway as if every day is a sight-seeing adventure, like taking a Sunday evening stroll. Because of this, I spend plenty of time screaming, “OMG…. MOVE OUT THE WAY!” But, of course, they don’t hear me, and of course I know it’s pointless. So I’ve been trying for a few years now to become road rage-less. I’m not sure how successful I am at it. It comes and goes.
I used to work and hang out in Chicago for a lotta, lotta years, so aggressive city driving is in my bones. It’s hard to shake. Plus, I feel like if I do shake it, I’ll lose my edge and become my worst nightmare……a lollygagging driver. Oh my! But maybe that’s a good thing. My girlfriends back home were never fans of my driving and I’ve never been known to do the speed limit. So maybe I’m surrounded by southern drivers for a reason. Maybe now that I’m getting older, wiser, and more at peace with myself, I can become more at peace with the road. Because after all…”What’s the rush?”
Photo by Ali Haider
*This post is part of the month-long blog theme “Remixing May“
OK, this is so funny, Demetria. I spent years driving a crazy long commute from a town way north of Denver to DU, which is way south of Denver when I was working on my grad degree. I had to drive the interstate for over an hour to and from rush hour. You just got used to being impatient and aggressive.
But then I moved to this very little mountain town where everyone recognizes you by your car, and we only have two grocery stores so you’re bound to see everyone you know sooner or later in one of them, and where you just know for sure the person you just honked at is going to be sitting next to you in church next Sunday. So. I’ve learned to relax. The worse here is the tourist traffic. It’s a lovely area. They like to gawk n’ drive. I have to remind myself to find my inner zen-girl and just relax and breaaatheeeee.
Julie, breathing whenever I’m in my car seems to be an everyday ritual. I have to tell myself to relax and breathe all the time on the road.
Some days I’m very tolerant of other drivers and can go with the flow, but then there are those days when the city girl comes out of me and it’s not even cute.
Good golly your town sounds small. I would hate it if the person I’m honking at ends up sitting next to me in church. Either I’d be embarrassed by my road rage, OR want to strangle them right there on the pew. 🙂
One of the few things I dislike about living in NC is the unbelievable amount of traffic accidents here–many of which are deadly. Whenever I make this observation to natives of NC they always say the same thing…it’s the people who move here. LOL. So maybe they aren’t wrong.
There are definitely times when I’ve fit that bill, as well. Usually when I’m running behind schedule. Like this morning on my way to a 9am doctor’s appt.
Reese, they call us “transplants,” which means people who aren’t originally from here who’ve moved (transplanted) here from other states/countries.
I found that hilarious the first time I heard that reference. But it’s totally true. I’m a transplant and I love it here in NC, but I won’t give up my “yankee” up north status. Even though the south seems to be converting my driving habits.
You’ve got me laughing in the library! I hope you can learn to change your city ways and live as the Romans, so to speak. You won’t lose your edge, I think you’ll sharpen it by learning to be flexible and understanding.
God does know how to put us in the middle of our achilles hills to hone us to perfection!
Ooooooo, Nancy, that’s an awesome way to look at it! That I won’t lose my edge but sharpen it by learning to be more flexible and understanding when I’m driving. LOVE THAT, my friend.
I’ll take your advice and use this renewed viewpoint regarding losing my edge. Thanks a bunch for your insight.
I am still a huge work in progress on this subject. Although I consider myself a slower driver these days, when I gotta get to work and I left the house later than i should’ve, and even slower folks are in my way….lets just say those are not always my proudest moments.
Starla, I have a lot of “non proud” moments on the road, but you have always been a better driver than me. I can admit that to you now in my older age, but that’s not saying much because I’ve seen some close calls while riding in the car with you as the driver. 🙂
Hey D…
Southern driver, here. But I’ve been a city driver and know the ropes. Living in California taught me how to be patient, though. The commute from SD proper to North County was bottlenecked all the way, and there was no sense in changing lanes trying to get ahead…you just had to go with the flow.
Nowadays, I go the speed limit, and realize that any “crazy” driving only saves five minutes, if that.
Well, Mike, it looks like the longer I stay in the south the more the southerners chisel away at my city-driver ways. I dread the conversion but it’s inevitable.
Don’t lump us all together, now. It depends on which part of the South.
I grew up driving in and around Houston, so look out or I’ll run you over. LOL
Okay, Melissa, that’s fair. I guess I shouldn’t generalize all the southerners. I do run into a few high rollers, but I just figure they’re transplants, like me, from another state/country. 🙂