Member-only story
May Mania | Episode 30
How I Went from Happy Go Lucky to Terror Stricken in Seconds
My Frightening Encounter with Road Rage
It was a pleasant summer evening out with friends. We’d been on a rooftop bar enjoying each other’s company, marveling at the view of downtown, and catching up on life.
Driving home down Stateline Road, I was feeling fulfilled and happy. It had been a wonderful evening. I was stopped at a red light, listening to Willie Nelson’s To All the Girls … an album that I enjoy relaxing into. The light turned green as I listened to a mellow duet and I didn’t notice immediately.
We all do that, right? Lose focus at a red light? If someone isn’t paying attention we give them a little toot to get their attention, they say, “Oops!” and we all move forward. Blanking on a green light happens hundreds of thousands, if not millions times a day.
Not this dude; He laid on his horn. Laid. On. It. Just as I started forward, he jerked into the left lane, face flushed purple, enraged, screaming, shaking his fist at me, and roaring past. He cut sharply back in front of me, still screaming and shaking with rage. I was afraid for my life.
Two blocks later he turned left, head out the window, face still distorted, fist still raised, shouting…
