Up until last week I would take the country back-roads to get home. From Concord to Manteca it was about 55 miles of 1 lane in each direction–and varying speed limits.

I would see 3 or 4 different highway patrol cars each trip. And someone would ALWAYS be pulled over, getting a ticket. I do not want a ticket. I can not afford the fines.

So I stay within 5 miles of the speed limit and come to complete stops at the stop signs. This invariably makes other drivers angry, so I pull over and let them pass me when it’s safe.

Last week, on one of my trips home, a mini-van and a drop-top BMW come SCREAMING up behind me. The mini-van is tailgating me. Then she turns on her brights, blinding me temporarily.

At this point in the road there is no shoulder, and therefore no safe place to pull over. I’m a little angry, but I’m not going to speed up–because I know about a mile or so ahead is a favorite place for the CHP to hide and wait for lawbreakers.

Well, they decide that they are going to pass me on the double-yellow line and floor it, disappearing into the distance. I exhale and relax, no one is behind me now–and forget about it since this happens to me all the time.

A few miles up the road I see blue and red lights flashing on the side of the road. As I get closer, I see my friends the mini-van and the drop-top BMW. The CHP officer is out of his cruiser and speaking to the driver of the BMW.

I slow down, look directly at the driver of the mini-van, smile and wave. She flips me off. I drive away.

So let me ask you this… was it wrong for me to gloat?

If so, I don’t care. It felt so fucking good.