Don’t Drive Your Job Home

On Tuesday, I got in my car a little bit distracted. I had stopped to say good night to my boss, and unexpectedly had my annual salary review. I was dissatisfied with the review, and as I pulled out of the parking lot I realized the air conditioning wasn’t working. It was hot and humid and the car had been in the sun all day so it was really stuffy, so I rolled all the windows down. At the entrance ramp to the parkway, there was a gap between the next two cars. I accelerated and pulled on after the first, and suddenly the second car was right on my tail, honking furiously and tailgating me. I don’t know why I did it; I haven’t done it since I was a teenager; I knew I shouldn’t do it. My window was open, and I FLIPPED HIM THE BIRD!

The driver continued tailgating me and I saw that he was a man who looked about 30. He was driving a silver Volkswagen, but I couldn’t see the license plate because he was too close. Then he pulled into the lane on my left and drove exactly as fast or slow as I did for several miles. My exit was coming up and I went as far towards it as possible and then veered off the parkway onto the exit. He followed me. I keep my car in a garage with a parking attendant, but I was scared to stop my car. I drove through parking lots and took some abrupt turns.

My cell phone rang. My son was calling and I told him this weird thing was happening. Meanwhile, I stopped at a red light with the other car right behind me. I turned around, and it was clear I had a cell phone in my hand. When I made the turn into my garage, the silver Volkswagen was not behind me.

Part of me was thinking, “Oh get a life!” but I will never do anything that stupid again. As cranky and pissed off as I was that day, who knows what the other driver had been through. I won’t be driving my job home again any time soon!