Why Do I Bother?

I was driving home from work the other night and stopped off at Fred Meyer on the way as I often do. I was still in my work uniform which has the nifty State of Oregon logo embroidered on the chest. I left Freddy’s and headed up the hill out of town. The speed limit up the hill is 45 but I have never understood why. There is nothing on that hill except for a church and a tavern and I just don’t get it. As soon as you reach the top of the hill it’s 55.

So … partly out of habit, and partly out of defiance, I almost always go 55 up that hill. I say almost always because that night I was going 64. How do I know I was going 64? Because that’s what the cop told me.

I knew I was caught and I knew I was in trouble as soon as I saw his lights flashing. He must have been right behind me at the bottom of the hill when I took off from that last light. He got out of his car and I could see his flashlight and the lights from his car reflecting in my side mirror. I had to put my hand up to block the light because it was so bright in my face. I could tell by his walk and by the way he glared at me as he got closer that he wasn’t happy with me.

Then something happened that I didn’t expect. He came around to get a full view of my face and shined his light right on me and suddenly he took about a half step backward and his expression changed to surprise. “ohhh!” he said, “I’m sorry,” and took the light out of my eyes. I was all ready to kiss ass and maybe beg a little and he was acting as if he had just pulled over his own dad or something. “Just slow down a little, ok?” he said and started to walk away. He had seen the emblem on my shirt and just walked away without even asking for my license.

I’ve always wanted to be part of some brotherhood. This one seems to have some benefits. All those Jeep drivers get is a wave, heh.

Technorati Tags: speed limit, 55, cop, speeding ticket, traffic stop

Tags: Driving, Work //