Wednesday, September 22, 2004

"suddenly, they were in England"

What is it that possesses people that enables them to think it's OK to exit from a gas station in the left lane? When I stopped, my headlights were staring directly into the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. I looked to my right to see where I was, if I had turned too wide or something: No, I was definitely in the in-bound lane. Unfortunately, so was the land yacht on its way out.

The driver of the other car and I sat for a second or two, and then I cranked my wheel hard, and passed him on the right -- the guy was so far over I couldn't pass him and stay in my own lane -- and then went and filled my tank.

Nobody said anything or mouthed anything or even made any gestures. "Suddenly England" popped into my head but I didn't say it out loud until after the land yacht had gone on its merry way. I am grateful that things didn't get ugly.

I can't take credit for the "England" remark: an old friend of mine used it frequently whenever he'd witness similar boneheaded maneuvers. I think it was this same friend who cautioned me about driving in parking lots: all rules are suspended, he said -- "people think they're driving boats or something, and lane markers are only suggestions." His wisdom and my attentiveness today prevented a fender-bender.

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