Human Nature Gone Wild

During my motorcycle ride to Austin TX and back (1,500 miles) and in a drive to Gulf Shores AL in my truck I observed a plethora of character types on the road. Some mosey along like they are oblivious to the chaos around them. I've been semi-retired (jobless) for a year now and I don't have to be anywhere on time except church on Sunday. But, I still race to anywhere I go. Most of the drivers on the road are apparently chronically late because they drive as if nothing better get in their way.

My mind-set is to get somewhere without lollygagging. When I left Austin I took a country road through the outback, the most direct route to Houston. It was a four lane highway with massive shoulders and beautiful purple, orange and pink wildflowers flanked the sides and filled the medians. I had my camera with me but I didn't stop to take one photo because I needed to stay on course without delay. What's wrong with that attitude?

So, I was on I-12 in the Baton Rouge metro area when a black guy in a work truck passed me on my left and he was pointing to my right and then pointing downward. I went 'huh?' and then looked down to see if anything was falling off my bike. I looked at the saddlebag on my right side and it was unhinged from one of two pins and hanging almost to the road! I got off at the next exit and fixed the problem and got home safely. I'm wondering how many drivers noticed my predicament and never gave a care! Thank you, sir, whoever you were.

Then, I was returning from Gulf Shores in one of the most raging rains I've ever seen. I was caught up in a typical terrific traffic jam in Pensacola where they have been working on the interstate, overpasses, and Ivan-damaged Bay Bridge. Two lanes had to merge into one and as I tried to move into the other lane I was stymied by a line of tractor-trailors who would give no quarter. Finally, some four-wheelers approached and I make a very slight move hoping for a good neighbor to give way. Not only did one driver close in to block me, but the second car closed in, and the lady made such a macho move that she slid on the rain-slickened surface and smacked the car in front of her. The guy in front, with his head leaning into his open hand, never blanched, like he just knew that some maniac would rearend him. They moved and the next guy let me in. I did the unchristian thing and flicked my headlights at the macho lady for a couple minutes until the ire evaporated. Human nature gone wild! Thank you, sir, whovever let me merge...

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