I get too wrapped up and annoyed about things. How could I have better handled the following situation?
I’m driving the fleabag home last night. I’m tired, I’m driving into the sun. Gas is $87 a gallon. So I’m going the speed limit: 50 mph, on a four-lane divided road. I’m in the right-hand lane (aka the slow lane.)
An SUV comes zooming up behind me, gets right on my bumper. I stay at 51 mph. The left lane, (aka the PASSING lane) is clear for them to go around me.
Instead of passing me, they flash their lights. The female driver shows her annoyance with her hands, face and I can see she’s mouthing or speaking things at me. I wave merrily in my rear view rather than get mad.
Finally they go in the left lane as we approach a red light. They are directly beside me and we all have our windows open.
She says loudly to the male passenger (who is reclined with his sneakered foot resting out the window), “Old lady drivers…sheeeit.”
I want to say things along the lines of “piece of trash” or “stupid tailgater” or “that’s what passing lanes are for you freaking idiot” or “f-you you gas-guzzling moron.”
Instead I say, dripping with dislike, “The speed limit is 50.”
She rolls her eyes and holds her palm to me,”WHAT ever!” and the guy laughs, and she gets on the phone and says more about me being an old lady. And I say primly, “Someone with a kid in their car shouldn’t speed!” for she has a young boy in the back seat.
And I’m angry. For no reason. But I’m thinking how much I dislike that man and woman, and how annoyed I am by them. And when they finally turn off I wave at them again, and it amuses me when they wiggle fat fingers out of the top of their window.
So. I probably should have just ignored her. Said nothing. Rolled up my window. Not engaged in her trashy barbs. Shouldn’t I?
