Today’s blog is brought to you by Mark who wrote in to say, “I think you should blog on people who when they go to get on the highway, they think that the other lanes of traffic have a yield sign (despite just passing on the way down the on ramp.)”
Mark, I’m glad you brought this subject to my attention because I have to admit that I’m one of these people. I’ll come back to this in a moment, though, because I think it’s important to first talk about why blogging for Mark or doing anything Mark asks, including not being dumb when entering the highway, is, in fact, a good idea.
Here’s the deal. Mark used to be a Navy SEAL. He’s hardcore, and one of my favorite people in the world, even though we’re not supposed to have favorites. Mark is the first person I call when anything around my house breaks. He’s also the first person I call when I need a bodyguard, like when I’m riding my bike on the Poudre Trail and meet scary people who shout obscenities at me. If I feel like shooting a gun at a target in the middle of the eastern plains of CO, you got it – I call Mark. When I needed a place to live 6 years ago when the girl I was living with went crazy, Mark and his wife Stephanie took me in, and since Mark owns more guns than I have fingers, I always feel safe in his house. Mark is a master of survival due to his naval training and when the world comes to an end, I’m going to spend my last days taking shelter at Mark’s house, but only if he’s going to be there too. The bottom line is you don’t want to mess with Mark.
However, I will point out that I am far superior than Mark at paintball. I’m not sure how fate played this card on my behalf, but it’s true. When we last met on the paintball field back in 2008, not only did I track Mark to his secret hiding place in a treehouse, I shot him not once but 72 times before he screamed that the game was over and my team won. I think the game might have been over before I started shooting at him, but really it doesn’t matter at this point. After all, paintball welts heal whether you get them legally during the game or illegally after the game is over when Robin ambushes you in the treehouse.
I’d like to take a break now, and give a special shout out to my faithful reader Lynsey, who graciously hosted me in Cyprus this summer and reminded me just this morning that in my blog’s 48 hours of existence, I have yet to mention her by name. Sorry about that, Lynsey. Lynsey, Lynsey, Lynsey. I hope all is forgiven now, Lynsey. Also, since all things concerning my blog must somehow be related back to Erika, I’ll also mention that Lynsey taught me how to play the board game Ticket to Ride while I was in Cyprus and I just discovered that Erika loves this game and she’s promised to play it with me sometime soon. Good things come to those who blog. Lynsey.
But back to Mark’s compelling topic of why people think that they have the right of way when entering the highway from a ramp. While I can’t speak for all drivers, I can certainly tell you why I feel like highway traffic should yield to me when I enter the highway. See, I have to enter the highway at a certain speed or I risk being run over by traffic. When going from 0-75 mph in my new-to-me shiny red 2008 Mazda 3, I don’t have nearly as much control about where I can move on the ramp as the traffic in the highway has. They see me coming. A lot of times, they have the time and space to move into the other lane to let me in, and therefore, they have the responsibility to move over and let me in. I think it’s more important to ask the question, “Why does highway traffic not move over into the left lane when they see a car coming on the ramp to enter the highway?” It seems kind of selfish to me, really.
And yet, Mark could probably dismantle my car with his pinky finger while under water, so it might be worth it for me and all drivers everywhere to consider thinking about others as more important than themselves. So, ramp driver, slow down, look around, and don’t assume you can just barge in front of someone on the highway. And highway driver, if you see ramp driver coming and you can move into the far lane, don’t be selfish. Move over for a few seconds. Let’s share the road, everybody. Let’s keep Mark happy.
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