I finally figured out the correct metaphor for Washington drivers (the freeway ones particularly): they’re cats.
The ones who get right up behind you in the lane going all I HAVE TO GET BY YOU I HAVE TO GO FASTER GO GO GO NOW MOVE OVER NOW NOW and then you do move over and they’re all, Oh what pretty trees there are out there, I don’t like the song playing on the radio I must change it, is that my phone ringing?
Just like the cat going OPEN THE DOOR I MUST GO OUTSIDE NOW NOW NOW OR I WILL SURELY DIE, and then you do open the door and they sit in the doorway.
They didn’t want to actually go out, or to pass you. They wanted the door open, or the lane free. It’s all about options. I get it now.
Anyway, despite all that, I’m home safe, and perfectly exhausted. I have smart and interesting larger thoughts about things discussed with Shelly Rae at breakfast, about Twitter vs. blogging, and the discipline of small creativity, but those thoughts will have to wait for another day. (It was her smartness, leading to my interesting thoughts–or at least I think they’re interesting!)