I, a Poor Miserable Driver…
So I realized something important about myself this past week. I really stink as a driver. This epiphany took years to dawn on me. Almost everywhere I went, I used to become irritated at how rude the local drivers were. Fort Wayne is the grand exception. Everyone is nice here. But in Pittsburgh, I thought people drove crazy and honked too much and were rude. Then in the past couple of months, things started to come to a peak. In Denver last month, I thought, “wow, these drivers are mean.” Then the same thing in Los Angeles, San Diego, and finally San Francisco. People kept honking at me, making obscene hand gestures, and so forth. I just kept getting mad until it finally hit me: “Every city I go to is not filled with nutso rude drivers. I AM THE BAD DRIVER.” Mea maxima culpa!
Perhaps you are a bit too contrite as regards your driving skills.
Sometimes when driving in cities where one is “unfamiliar”, we do not drive like the locals who typically know exactly where their next exit ramp is…aware of which lane to be in ahead of time.
At least that is the reasoning I use when folks are honking at me when I drive the expressway in a city strange to me.
Rationalizing?
Or maybe, like you, I need to say a maxima culpa too
Another Kerner
22 Nov 08 at 9:37 am
Good morning,Pastor -
I applaud your honesty…not that I’ve ever experienced being in the same car, while you were driving.
What I mean is this…how many people come in to work saying “Wow, do I stink at driving! You should have seen the mess that I caused getting here today!”
Fortunately, since a large part of my father’s job involved driving a big dump truck/salt truck, he made sure I had the appropriate skills. He never so much as put a nick on the salt truck…driving in Brentwood for over 35 years! Maybe you were simply not instructed properly.
The next time you are here in the ‘Burgh, I’d be happy to share some of what I’ve been taught.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Paul, in Bethel Park
25 Nov 08 at 7:51 am
Ha ha ha! My aunt was telling me about a time she was driving with my grandmother. Well, grandma cut someone off and that angry driver flipped her the bird. My aunt was astonished and my grandma said, “Don’t worry about it, dear, happens all the time!” We are a whole family of bad, but lucky drivers.
Sarah
1 Dec 08 at 7:52 pm