I drive a super-recognizable little truck: It’s bright blue and covered in stickers and stencils. So when I do something lame while driving, I feel extra ridiculous. I have two apologies I’d love to make official.
The first incident took place on Main Street in Cold Spring. A student driver was parallel parking; I was waiting in the westbound lane. A driver pulled around both of us to continue down Main. I lost touch with my rational mind. I laid on the horn and went after them. Frustrated at being misunderstood as a double parker, and for being jumped in line, I felt red hot. But it was me who made the scene ugly and dangerous.
Second incident: A school bus was coming down Fishkill Avenue in Beacon in the opposite lane. We slowly approached each other. When the driver did not extend the side arm stop sign, I thought, “Nice, he is waiting for me to pass” and waved. The driver was stone-faced as I drove past and then I was met with a mind-scrambling blast of his dual-tone horn.
I hate thinking that the student driver thought I’d lost patience. And I don’t want to imagine what the bus driver thought. I’ve revoked my honking privileges, learned my lesson on the school bus rules and doubled down on not taking other drivers’ actions so personally. See you on the road.
Simone Goldenberg, Beacon
