Mistakes happen and yours truly made one today.
Road rage can happen. And I actually preach what people should do when it does.
It’s to bad I didn’t take my own advice.
It happened today while heading to the radio station shortly before 5 pm.
While in one of the two left turning lanes on William Street at Elgin, a pickup truck unexpectedly cut into my lane causing myself to take evasive action. This wasn’t a “put on your signal and merge” lane change. This was a sudden and sharp cut into the lane when I was. If I didn’t take evasive action – let’s just say there would have been a police report from the collision.
This next part is totally 100% on me and where I should heed my own advise.
When that happened I leaned on my horn, again, and again and likely again.
There was no acknowledgment from the driver. A friendly wave giving the message, “oops sorry didn’t mean too.”
But that didn’t happen.
Which ticked me off even more. How dare this person cut me off and not acknowledge. Who does he think he is?
When the light turned green I met him at the next set of lights and let him have it. Words a child or in fact anyone shouldn’t hear.
And when I took the deep breath and thought about it after I realized. The other driver made a mistake but I was the idiot.
To that driver, and to others in the area of my childlike behavior, I apologize.
I could go on about the day I had, but others have good and bad days – that’s no excuse.
At the end of the day, it didn’t make me feel any better taking my anger out. In fact I was, and am embarrassed and ashamed by it.
I’d been looking for that “oops sorry” when I should have just carried on with my day.
To many times for me at least I use the excuse that I make mistakes. This time was one that could have easily been avoided if I’d only used my head instead of my mouth.
Once again, I sincerely apologize and will do better.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
