[jims69camaro]

i used to let road rage get the better of me. then i learned to chill out while driving. but before that happened, i did get into several serious situations. i'll tell two:

on the bridge coming back from sleazeside, early in the morning on my way to work, an idiot pulled out in front of me at the light before the bridge. i had to do some serious braking to avoid this slapnuts, and my only thought was for revenge, so i slid in front of him and stood on the brakes. well, he must've thought i was looney (most likely blissfully unaware that he had cut me off) so he jumped in front of me to slam his brakes on. then, it was my turn, but it ended up a drag race up over the bridge, because he didn't want to let me get in front of him. well, we get to the light on the toms river side and it's red, so the car goes into park and i swung the door open. he was in the middle lane, one car ahead of me and he was the first in line at the light. well, he must've seen me open my door, because he's off like a shot - and the light's still red.

then there was the time in brick when i approached a light, which was green, and was about to make a right hand turn. the guy in the opposing lane was making a left, and i guess he thought he had enough room to make it in front of me. he didn't, but i was ready with my foot on the brake. then, he changes his mind, doesn't want to make the turn in front of me. i slowly start inching my car toward his, no longer thinking about making the right, but more intent on pissing him off. it's summer time, so our windows are down, and i hear him say, "don't hit my car". i yelled back, "you shouldn't have put your car in front of mine, jerk-off". to which he replied, "did you just call me a jerk-off?" and i said, "yeah, jerk-off". he said, "don't make me pull over and kick your ass." well, any of you who know me also know that A) i take **** from no one, and B) i'm big enough that most people think twice before calling me out. this is how bad road-rage is, i think - it muddles the brain and you can't think straight. well, after kicking his ass, he's on his knees behind his car. i knelt down beside him and said, "you're going to think twice before trying to turn in front of someone else in the future, aren't you? where in the world does a left-turner have the right of way against a right-hand-turner?" he said, "no where".

well, the second one, the wife was in the car. after i got back in the car, she made me realize how out of control i was, and what would've happened if the guy had kicked my ass and she was left unprotected? i stopped letting road-rage get the better of me afterwards. i mean, i still flip people off when they need it, but i am a lot more calm behind the wheel than i used to be.