Alan NeSmith
Thursday morning, a little after 7 a.m., two incensed drivers acted like idiots at the intersection of Level Grove Rd. and Highway 441 in Cornelia. Hanging out the windows of their vehicles, they shouted obscenities and made hand gestures to each other with no regard for other motorists.
When the light finally changed, the white Dodge pickup took off, and the black Camaro redlined its tachometer. The simple-minded fool didn’t realize his sports car’s transmission was in park.
As the Camaro’s driver finally found first gear and laid drag across the intersection, Heather looked in the rearview mirror to check on Fenn. Our 12-year-old had just witnessed the entire event as Heather was trapped in the turning lane on their way to the school bus pickup.
After Fenn made it on the bus, Heather called me. In recapping the story, she said, “Alan, I was just praying they didn’t pull out a gun.”
After turning 16 and hitting the paved roads by myself, Grandmother NeSmith would tell me, “Alan, be careful on the road. I know you are a good driver, but I’m worried about all the other drivers.”
You see, around the farm, we learned to drive by 10 years old. And by the time I was 16, I felt comfortable sitting behind the wheel of anything with tires. Three on the tree, four on the floor, it didn’t matter. Granddaddy NeSmith often said, “Automatic transmissions are for lazy people.”
Thursday morning, two of the most precious people in my life felt they were in danger. And I felt so helpless hearing the story.
Do you think the two fools had any idea the scene they caused?
Do you think they realized the fear they caused other motorists at the intersection to feel?
Do you think they even cared?
Frankly, I don’t think they did.
Folks, we live in a safe place with great public safety professionals to protect us, but there are still a lot of scary people that pass through. I thank the good Lord Heather and Fenn are OK.
I wish everyone would take time to breathe and relax on our roads instead of balling up their fist and screaming their red faces off.
As we drive around this weekend, let’s remember Grandmother NeSmith’s words of advice, “Be careful on the road. I know you are a good driver, but I’m worried about all the other drivers.”
Alan NeSmith is the chairman of Community Newspapers Inc. Reach him at 706-778-4215 or anesmith@TheNortheastGeorgian.com.