I was in the capital this past weekend, for a few hours on Sunday. My daughter had a dance competition and so I made the long drive down there by myself to sit and watch her perform.
She did great, especially for her first ever competition. Nailed some things she’d been working on, and discovered a few other things that still need a little work. (Little things, but if you were to ask her she either wouldn’t want to talk about it, or would say they were horrible!)
After the awards were handed out, and everyone got their trophies, it was time to go home. (Yes, they all got trophies. They were graded against themselves, not each other. I thought my baseball awards in elementary school took a long time!)
On the way back, I encountered what can only be described as a “Very Texas problem”. There was an overturned cattle trailer a few miles up the road and it shut down 183 just south of Lampasas. So I had to turn around, and find an alternate route. Took me 25 minutes out of my way, but thanks to my trusty GPS in my phone, I got around it ok.
One thing happened though, and that made me question some things.
I was looking at my phone and driving, I know, bad idea! Trying to figure out where I was going.
A rather bulky fellow on an electric blue Harley sped past me, and gave me the “Irritated driver salute”, which I will admit I returned back to him. I knew he was there, but apparently he didn’t like being behind me and decided to amend the problem.
Let me describe this guy to you. American flag do-rag, Fu Manchu moustache, aviators, NO shirt, No helmet, and a bad attitude.
I have to assume he was upset because he thought I was unfriendly to motorcyclists due to some perceived slight.
Quite the contrary. I try to be aware of people on bikes as much as I can. I like them, and would love to have one maybe one day. So, I treat them with a little more respect than other drivers because in a fight, my Jeep wins over his Harley. Every time.
Here’s my thought: If I am supposed to watch out for him, and he sees me not being completely cautious on the road, why was his first instinct to blast around me flying the fickle finger of fate in my face? Shouldn’t he be as cautious, if not more so, than I?
He’s the one who chose to ride his Harley at highway speed sans jacket or helmet. He’s the one who bought the thing in the first place.
I’ll keep an eye out, but dude, you need to keep one out for yourself as well!
Don’t get mad at me for supposedly disregarding your safety, when all it’ll take is one unseen rock to send your bike out from under you and make you regret not wearing basic safety gear!
We all have responsibilities. All of us. But your negligence to your duties does not increase the responsibility that I have to mine.
Ben Cox is the morning show host of “Ben Cox in the Morning” on KQBZ, 96.9 FM in Brownwood Texas. He is the new in-stadium voice of the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets football team, & Ben is also an event DJ for weddings, parties and the like, and can be contacted through the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
The thoughts and comments reflected in this column are those of the writer alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of Wendlee Broadcasting, or its affiliates.