Courtesy of justpushhard via Flickr

I hate driving…always have. The only time that I actually enjoy driving is the short window that extends from the date of purchase to three days after I buy a new car . I buy cars once every decade so that gives you an idea of how often I enjoy driving.

It’s not that it’s particularly difficult but I cannot multi-task when I drive. Neither can anyone else but they don’t know it. That means I have to watch out for drivers who are chatting on their cell phone, texting, putting on makeup, eating breakfast, etc. Using me as the standard of measurement, there are not many great drivers these days. (The jury is out on how well you drive!)

This past weekend we had a horrific storm here that took the power out for days. Even on major highways the traffic lights were out for 2 to 3 days. People do not know what to do when they come to a traffic light that isn’t working. What you do is act as if it is a 4-way stop sign. Everyone stops, and then you take turns. Just like in kindergarten. There were less than ten of us that knew that in a town of 118,000 people. Here are some of the folks I saw:

• Blithering idiots – these were people who were driving on what they thought was the main or major roadway so they assumed they had the right of way and all intersecting roads did not. They did slow down to about 40 mph before they flew through the non-functioning light. They were intent on getting where they were going, although not necessarily alive. There were a lot of fender benders.
• Cowards – these were people who wanted to be sure that they did not get hit by any blithering idiots. They didn’t care if they made it home by Thanksgiving. I sat at an intersection where everyone completely stopped (a miracle in itself) and this guy still was too scared to drive through. Everyone was honking. I thought I might have to get out of my car and help him along.
• Confused folks – I think these people just didn’t know what to do. They knew they didn’t know so they were slow and cautious (hope you followed that confusing sentence). There is cautious and then there is CAUTIOUS! Yikes!
• Other people like me – these folks knew what to do and did it cautiously but did not stop traffic for 5 minutes before they acted. I liked these people.

Now in case you think I am a really good driver and maybe I am, I am known for being directionally challenged. The last time I was the driver for an outlet shopping trip, we ended up in a town ten miles southeast (or was it northwest???) from our destination. I have been going to this mall my whole life and I still missed a turn and didn’t realize I missed the turn for about 15 minutes. I drive well and get somewhere but it may not be where I am going. I say it makes for great stories.