Starke County Drivers

I have been a Starke County resident for most of the last 13 years, with the exception of about 9 months between 2007 and 2008 when we moved up to Portage. I don't miss that. I was living around my extended family for that time, and that is another complete blog I will entertain at some later date.There seems to be road rage all over the place. We don't seem to have much of that here, but we definitely have frustrations. My husband and I talk about the way people drive here all the time. I wonder if anyone else notices these things.

For example, you are driving through town and come to a four-way stop. Now typically,by law, the first one to stop is the one who is supposed to proceed first through the intersection. Do you remember the cartoon with the little gophers (or whatever they were supposed to be) that were so polite that they continually made excuses for the other one to go first: "after you! No, no, no, after you!" Well, that is what it feels like everyone is doing! My husband is continually complaining and yelling at people who thankfully can't hear him, "it's your turn! What are you waiting for; an engraved invitation!" I see no point in this, and I tell him that, but it is annoying.

Another thing that puzzles me is the new trees on Lake Street. New is relative really because they have been there for a few years now. They are very pretty, but I wonder who the genius was that placed them in positions that would obstruct the stop signs when they get foliage in the spring and summer? No offense to whoever that was,but it was short-sighted unless it was a police committee that needed more revenue for running stop signs. I have even forgotten about them a few times when I was pre-occupied or talking to a passenger in my car and had to screech to a stop! I know they are there, but I do admit to having senior moments once in a while, but surely I'm not that bad! I am only 52 so there must be a few more people who will admit they have trouble with it too!

All rural areas are different compared to the big cities, and that means the people are different too. I can't be the only one who's noticed this! I prefer even the absent-minded drivers like m e against the "road ragers" up there. Man, one time a few years ago, we had a guy chase us down because he was weaving in and out of traffic and scaring us all the way down McCool Road in Portage, and we were talking about him in the car. My kids were taking it all in from the backseat. My daughter flipped him off. She was 15 at the time and my son was beside her who was only her senior by one year! This man lost his mind and came after us with a vengeance until he finally caught up with us at the stoplight on route #6 and McCool, yelling all the way with the windows open. He was yelling at "the fat bastard in the back seat", and cursing him out crazily and with much malice. My husband tried to talk rationally to the guy and apologize and explain that it wasn't even our son, but our tiny, delicate-looking like butter -wouldn't- melt- in-her-mouth daughter who regrettably flipped him off! This man was in no mood to listen. I happened to be in the driving seat that time, so I just rolled up our windows, locked all the doors, and took off like a bat out of you-know-where! I know when to get out of Dodge!

So all in all, I am happy to be in Starke County with all of its peculiaries. I am even down with the trees. It's a lot better than living with a roadway parking lot down route #30 between Hobart and Schererville. I am sure I added my percentage of peculiarity when I moved here too.
So, I guess I am in for the duration, folks!