To the driver of the light blue Ford Expedition,
I know that we must have seen each other many times in the past couple of months since I came to Rural Hill Rd but this morning was probably the first time I sat up and took serious notice of you.
Today was like any other morning commute. I made it into the school zone and was happily cruising along at the required 15mph when I saw you backing down your driveway and then pausing as I neared.
To be honest, I don't like driving 15mph but I take the shortcut by the school to avoid as much of Bell Road as possible. I'm probably the only person who drives down that part of the road in the morning who doesn't drop someone off at the school. So I am aware that I am an interloper in a small car amidst all of the parents and their over-sized vehicles that they think are necessary.
But back to our encounter that (almost) left an impression on me.
I was aware of your pause as you waited for the few cars in front of me to move slowly past your driveway. I thought you would continue to wait until I had passed as well since I could see no car behind me for a decent distance. I then continued singing along to my CD and put you out of mind.
Perhaps you knew that I had seen and dismissed you as not dangerous to me and my person. Perhaps you were jealous that I paid you no more mind. Perhaps you saw me and my morning perkiness and, like many people, despised me for it. Perhaps you thought I was cute and wanted to get my attention. Perhaps my small car was simply too small to see due to the excessiveness of your Expedition.
In any case something made you decide that you simply could not wait a moment more to leave your driveway and join the parade of cars.
I must admit, there might have been a better time to actually back out onto the street than when the front of my car was actually even with your driveway. Though I could be wrong. That just might have been the perfect moment and my driving instructor from years ago was just pulling my leg when teaching me how to back up.
You did succeed in making me test my brakes as I slammed them on as you came flying backward out of that driveway. It is possible that my brakes did need that test. Thank you for allowing me to test them at that daunting speed of 15 mph. I doubt it was necessary though as many people seem to feel that my brakes need testing through that school zone.
I did acknowledge your clever maneuver with a nod, smile and ancient gesture of my own. I thank you also for that particular exercise that you provided for my middle finger.
Let's try to not meet tomorrow morning. While I did enjoying being close enough to see the specks of dust on your license plate my car has developed a case of claustrophobia and needs to avoid close encounters.
Thank you again,
The young red-haired woman in the maroon Toyota Corolla
