Local Traffic

I was stopped at a red light in the right lane of two-lane Bradley Blvd. In my rear view mirror, I caught a glimpse of a woman in a black Mercedes traveling fast and darting from lane to lane.

About a quarter of a mile ahead, the two lanes would narrow to one, and the locals have a bad habit of racing to get to that point ahead of the driver in the other lane. I could sense the Mercedes was ready to sprint.

Another car was in the left lane beside me. The Mercedes stopped behind me. The light changed. We moved out.

The Mercedes stayed behind me at first but then swung behind the car in the left lane. The woman was looking for a way to get around both of us, but couldn’t find an opening. She swung behind me again, but then quickly moved to the other lane. No luck. The car ahead of her slowed slightly to make a left turn, and I hit the point where the road narrows – ahead of the Mercedes.

For the next three miles, the Mercedes followed close on my rear end. That's always pleasant.

Finally, the road divided into two lanes as we approached a stop light: I was making a left turn, and the woman in the Mercedes eased over to the right lane to make a right turn.

As she pulled along beside me, I was ready to give her, at the very least, a look of scorn. I looked over, and a lady in her seventies with a wicked little smirk on her face was giving ME the finger.

I burst out laughing. Getting the finger from a seventy-year old woman can really make your day.