This past weekend was pretty busy and we got a lot accomplished, at least it feels that way. It was all very positive, save one very weird experience as I was driving through the suburb that I work in, on my way home from my parents’ home. It’s not the kind of place I’d expect to encounter this, but obviously people like this are everywhere.

Just to set it up, it’s a four lane road and there was little traffic, being a Sunday. I’m going along at maybe 5-7 mph over the speed limit and I notice a pickup truck coming up behind me and instead of just moving into the next lane he tails me a bit, then moves into the next lane and just kind of matches my speed. I figure, oh maybe he’s just checking out my car – I have the new Honda Insight Hybrid and there aren’t many on the road and I’ve had a few people ask me about it in parking lots, etc…then he seemed to be passing me and then slowed down again and was right next to me and kept doing that a couple of times. I decided I didn’t like it anymore and stepped on the gas and pulled away and he soon he’s right next to me again…and, of course the next light is red. We both stop at the light and he says “fast little car, eh?”, and I said, smiling, “it’s not bad.” Then he says, “and there’s a real $%@ driving it! Stupid Jap car.” I was caught off guard and just thought to myself, “oh geez, it’s one of these Glen Beck type people in real life!” I yelled back something about at least not sending as much of my money to terrorists by buying their gasoline – so much of which comes from oil pumped from Saudi Arabia or Nigeria, and to think it doesn’t find it’s way to very unfriendly folks would be very naive. Then he says something about buying American and I’m thinking…how stupid can you be? Do you realize that probably half your car is made in China or Japan or Canada, etc? And, probably all the clothes you’re wearing were made in Asia or Mexico? Then, he really turns it on. He sees Parker sitting in the back seat and says, “I see your not a real American anyway…don’t even have a kid the same race as you.” I said, “oh, so you’re not only stupid, but a KKK’r as well, eh?” He says, “that’s right, I’m a big KKK guy – America for Americans!” The light turned green, I said, “you’re everything that’s wrong with America, wrapped up in a crappy old truck!” He gave me the finger and drove off.

So this guy was apparently just out looking for someone to pick a fight with. What a sad excuse for a man is all I could think.

After it was all over, Parker said, “what that man say?” I responded just by saying that that man was not a nice man and he didn’t drive very safely so daddy had to yell at him and tell him to be a better driver and to be nice.

That was fun