So Jason and I went camping a month or so back. It was a lot of fun. Nice and relaxing, and my dog enjoyed it. Then the way back...the way back was plagued by this long flatbed truck FILLED with bricks. We were right behind it. This brick truck from the bowels of hell was driving at the speed of 5 miles an hour. FIVE NAIL BITING NERVE WEARING MILES AN HOUR!!! It was my car, and four others behind me. After following this brick truck for about an hour and fifteen minutes we get to a straight away and I get my hopes up, but soon after those same hopes are dashed by a sign saying "NEXT PASSING ZONE: 4 MILES" Now, four miles isn't that far...when you're driving the speed limit. But four miles when you are driving five miles an hour, well you can do the math yourself.

But even though its a straight away I can't pass because I'm an oddly moral driver (probably the only place in life but whatever). Then the car in the back of the line passes us and the brick truck [i]*SWOOSH*[/i] it goes out in front and to the freedom of the open road. Then the third car behind us goes for it and passes us and the brick truck [i]*SWISH!*[/i] I look over an see the occupants smiling in triumph at the evil truck and its load of bricks because it could hold them back no more. Then the second car, a beautiful silver explorer, [i]*ZIIIPP!!![/i] it shoots past us gleaming in the sun like a silver warrior slaying the brick truck as it moves onward and upward to freedom. All thats left is me and the car behind me. I look in my rear view mirror and see an older, partially rusted, jalopy. The driver was gripping the stearing wheel, like he was trying to feel if the old car had one last run left in him. He stated to pull out..then back in, gunning the engine slightly to get the feel of the road. Then he made his move. The old horse pulled up beside me [i]*RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE*[/i] I look up at the evil brick truck right as it lets out a vile plumb of black smoke choking me and killing the enviroment. I look and our straight away is almost coming to and end. I'm debating in my head, pass and lead the brick truck, or continue to follow...

I remember a Longfellow quote from Honors English my freshmen year that said, 'Many men will be left behind because the choose to follow instead of lead'

I decided I was not going to be one of those men and at the last minute pull out behind that little jalopy as its fighting to move. Its moving slowly, so I'm close behind it trying to push it with the force of my will and help it along. Before long its passed the brick truck, leaving me level with the head of the beast. With one last push of the gas pedal I've pulled ahead and am swooping back over behind my friend in his jalopy and in front of the brick truck. The wind rushes into my opened window as we move along back at the speed limit. Its fresh and crisp, no longer plagued by the vile breath emited from the brick truck. Before long we make it to the passing zone and the brick truck is no longer in my rear view mirrow. I smile inwardly at myself. Thats when somthing catches my eye in the rear view mirror. Lights...red and blue ones...fuck.

I pull over and a cop looking no older than 20 walks up to my car. "Can I ask you a question miss?" [i]'NO!'[/i]I thinkin my head as "ofcoarse officer" leaves my lips. "Why were you following that car so closely?" There was only one car I followed to closely. But it wasn't recklessly! That jalopy needed help! We beat the evil brick beat together! Right then I knew. I saw his trap. In order to answer his question I had to admit I was following closely because we were passing the brick demon...in a no passing zone. There in tying the noose around my neck for two sins. HA HA! I'm to wiley for you and shall not fall into your sticky web you pig. I shall do what every smart girl does when she is unable to use her wicked charms to get out of a situation. "I'm sorry sir, I'm not sure what car you mean? That red one I was just behind? I don't know..."[i]*twirls hair/bats eyes*[/i] He looks at me confused, "Well let me give you a hint, it was an older sort of rusted car and it was passing a brick truck and you were following it closing AROUND the brick truck in a no passing zone and I was following you the whole time" My my, did he have to be so blunt. Hadn't he heard of Longfellow! And about leading and not following and triumph over evil!!! My God did he not read Tolkien or paid attention to history! Apparently not.

He took my information and Jason and I had to sit there for about an hour in the hot sun every now and then coming up to ask questions. Everytime he'd walk up to the window we'd get a new lecture about the dangers of driving the way we did and how many accidents and deaths occured from people passing in the no passing zone. He didn't understand these were mayrters for the cause of freedom of the road and oppression from evil brick trucks. Everytime he walked up to the window our dog got excited and tried to stick her head out and give him her tennis ball. She didn't understand he was an evil man trying to punish us for wanting freedom.

Eventually about 45 minutes to an hour later he comes back and hands me a ticket. Of my crimes I was charged with:

*Passing in a no passing zone
*Following to close
*Reckless driving

A grand total of $764.00 of a ticket. Thus limiting my freedom even more as now I'm frickin' poor. The cop gave us one last lecture on safe driving and how he didn't want to see us killed and blah blah blah. He was actually pretty nice even though he was working for the enemy. Finally we are ready to go. He gets back in his cop car and as I look up to pull back on to the road I flick on my blinker and look in my rear view mirror to pull out....right as the brick truck catches up to us and passes us again.

The Gods have a wicked, wicked sense of humor.

All of that long back story brings me up to last night. I got a letter from the DMV telling me due to my ticket starting on 11/04 my license is restricted to no driving between the hours of 12am and 5am. Apparently if you get three tickets they restrict your driving even if the three tickets are actually three infractions on one ticket. Now yes, I know I broke the law and am taking the consiquenses. But I just think the restriction is a little much. I've had a clean record up until that point so its not like I'm a habitually bad driver. And now my freedom is even more restricted as I'm poor and have a curfew. I didn't even have a curfew in high school! All because I fought for the freedom of the road and didn't notice a cop following me. Apparently I should have paid attention to the words of Henry Gilmer instead of Longfellow:

"Look over your shoulder now and then to be sure someone's not following you."