Left Lane

The sun is just starting to rise, gently coloring the horizon. I’m lost in thought, radio off, preparing my mental checklist for the day. Speed control set at exactly the limit. You enter the on-ramp up ahead and soon it is apparent that you should either adjust your speed, or I should “let you” merge in. Courteous by default (or so I try to be), I signal and glide over to the left lane.

At this spectacular point, you merge in slightly behind me and slowly creep up beside me. We don’t wave, but I scope you out with my peripherals. I consider reducing speed, but decide to wait it out. Clearly you are in a hurry and will speed along soon. But, you don’t. Instead, you gradually pass me on the right, leaving plenty of time for the ten cars behind to catch up and tailgate you. Now a long line is parading beside me to the right. You know, like you’re not supposed to do.

Now I’m stuck over here in the left lane like a jerk and your ten new friends don’t even know that I did this for YOU!

There is probably a lesson here, but I haven’t learned it yet. Until tomorrow morning...