Passing Semis

You don't do what I want you to,
But I haven't been through all you've been through,
And we could use that as an excuse,
If that's what you choose.

1979 McGregor, Texas, Early Morning

I know this song. It’s Charlie Pride, Kiss an Angel Good Morning. My grandmother always turns on her kitchen AM radio intuitively catching it after the first verse. It’s the song that was playing when I first took a sip from her plastic bottle of saccharin. I’m in the truck with my uncle. We are headed to Lake Belton to catch white bass. Every time a truck passes, he lifts an index finger from the top of the steering wheel. Every passing driver waves back.

1985 unknown

“Sweetie, you look like your mom. And when I say that, what I mean is that you’re going to hate the way you look most of the time, but somewhere, someone is going to think that no one ever looked more beautiful.”

1995 Jackson, Missouri, Early Afternoon

“Why do you do that?”

“What?”

“Why do you wave at the cars? Do you know them?”

“I’m not waving at the cars.”

“Yes you are, with your finger.”

“I didn’t know I was.”

“This is your hometown?”

“I guess. It’s where I graduated high school, but it’s not where I’m from.”

A truck passes, and I notice he lifts a finger from the wheel. Alex laughs.

1999 Nashville, Evening

“Why do you do that?”

“What?”

“When semis pass you, you flash your high beams at them.”

“Oh. It’s so they’ll know they have enough room to pull back in front of you. Watch, he’ll blink his lights back at me in thanks.”

“How do you know that? And that mile marker thing. How’d you know that?”

“I’m an attentive passenger, I suppose. The mile marker thing doesn’t work in Georgia, though.”

She holds my eyes for a long moment without saying anything, but I’m forced to turn back to the road.

2005 Rural Thurston County, Early Afternoon

“I think your lights are on. That guy just turned his high-beams on and off at you.”

“It’s a cop.”

“That was a cop?”

“No, the reason he flashed his lights was because there’s a cop up ahead.”

“What?”

“When people pass police cars out here, they flash traffic afterwards so you won’t fall into a speed trap.”

“That’s cool. Do you do that?”

“Nope. I think it’s kind of dumb.”

“Then why did you wave at him?”

“Did I?”

oh, and few notes.

1. Okay, would someone please explain to me what the hell Canada puts in its water? Who the hell here knew that Martina Sorbara was Canadian? More importantly, who the hell here knew she was so g*ddamned hot? She’s a little young for me, so me and Sarah Harmer are still cool. But if Sarah ever decides to dump me for Trisha, Martina’s fair game on the rebound. Fortunately, for all parties involved, Sarah cannot dump me if she refuses to acknowledge we’re dating in the first place. Rockstar move, Sarah.
2. Oh, don’t worry, Kathleen Edwards, I’ve got you on my radar. Canadian. Check. Hot. Check. Country sound. Check. Hot. Check.
3. Speaking of rockstars, I bought Deni Bonet’s Acoustic, OK? and Bigger is Always Better CDs last December, and who knew that listening to Deni would pay off so handsomely? Deni, the video was incredible, your kind words even more so. And I hate to disagree with so many people, but I am none of those nice things you all think I am, but I’m ever grateful for the sentiment. I will admit I am suffering winner’s remorse, especially since Julie and PG and pretty much every one else who participated are pretty much all more deserving of me of such an awesome gift. I can quit blogging now.