We all aren't built with the same skills

I took a drive up to Minnesota recently for the '09 Holiday visit and came across much destruction along the way up (and back). I came to the conclusion that all of us are not built with the same skills. I guess one could serve up a Darwin-like statement but I think it is a little more subtle than that.

A little word problem for you. You rememeber those don't you? A train leaves Chicago at 6:17am traveling at 52mph in a northerly direction...yada yada yada, and then you are supposed to figure out how much each passenger pays in ticket fare. I think I am safe saying the majority of children hated and feared these problems and 'learned' to hate math as a result. You placed yourself in the 'I like these' and the 'I hate these' categories. A former girlfriend drove her teacher, a nun, to a frenzied state of histerics during the learnin' of word problems. If I recall correctly, the nun was jumping up and down and screaming, "Why are you doing this to me???!!!" before ejecting her from the classroom and banishing her to a special class. Her mom drove her to school thus avoiding the short-bus ride.

So the word problem: if six cars and two semi's are heading northward at a sedate 35mph, straining to remain on the roadway against a 25-40mph gusting wind, delicately feeling their way across a snow, ice, and rain covered tarmac...why in God's name is there an SUV passing us up going 50mph? That's not a classic word problem, I know, but really! why?

My first thought as I see the SUV approach very quickly in my rearview mirror is, "Idiot". A comedian I saw once said any driver going faster than you is an idiot, any driver going slower than you is a danger. My second thought that comes right after is, "Crap, I hope he(she) doesn't loose control as he(she) barrels past me."

Seriously, I was amazed this driver was still keeping the vehicle on the road. My drive wheels would spin and torque the truck I was driving at any speed over 40 mph. Washing out the front-end would be perilous and would likely produce what in the span of 10 miles was five cars flipped over. Upside down with doors open. These were freshly flipped cars. I don't know why there weren't any just plain old skidded into the ditch cars; there were just cars flipped over.

And this guy(gal) was, relatively, flying along. I'd kinda like to tell ya I saw him(her) a short space later, flipped over. But, no such thing occurred. I never saw them again.

But people, there is something wrong with someone who drives along like that, oblivious to the danger apparrent, ignorant of the wreckage impending, or uncaring enough to give pause to their desire for expediency versus placing their and other peoples' lives at risk. It is a completely selfish act. It is beyond 'idiot' stage. It is just stupid.

I drive beyond the speed limit all the time. But I am thankful that my Minnesota roots and raisin' have instilled a hubris and humility, a common sense to my driving. Happy Holidays to you and to my SUV friend. God speed.