We have had some gorgeous weekends. What better to do when the weather is amazing than get outside and head to the mountains? I love driving along the skyline drive, swinging through the overlooks, going for a hike, picnicking and keeping my eyes peeled for wildlife!
I had just finished saying how much I would love to see some
neat wildlife, when an itty bitty baby bear came trundling across the road in
front of us. It was the smallest,
cutest, newest bear I have ever seen. We
stopped to let it across the road, then it headed up the side of a bank to meet
it’s mama at the top of the hill. What a
thrill it was to watch!
Turns out – that wasn’t the only thrill we’d
experience. As we were getting ready to
start driving again, a car pulled up behind us – it was a park ranger. We started heading up the road and almost
immediately saw flashing lights. We
pulled over and he approached the car growling, “License and Registration”,
without skipping a beat he demanded, “Roll down your back window”, same breath,
“Is there anything in the vehicle I should know about”? At this point I’m thinking, wait a second,
where was the “Do you know what you did”?
Maybe I blacked out for a minute – while I was recklessly driving, with
a beer in one hand, a rifle in the other, a joint hanging on my lips, target
practicing on protected species. That
would help put his rudeness into context.
I took it upon myself to ask (from the passenger seat) – “Why are you
being such an ASS”? He commences to tell
me about the risk of head on collisions and how serious it is that we stopped –
never even asking why we stopped. I’m
thinking, are we or are we not in the National Park where the speed limit is
35, and do you or do you not want me to steam roll a baby bear?
He heads back to his car to run the license and
registration. Then he approaches our
vehicle again with the same shitty attitude.
So I ask again, “Why are you still being a DICK”? He proceeds to gather up my license and
saunter back to his car. Eventually he
returns and tells us that he has decided not to give us a reckless driving
ticket, but to never yada yada yada.
Moral of the story – demand respect and reciprocate
respect. Don’t get pulled over with a
feisty bitch in your passenger seat because she will enjoy every second of you
squirming in the driver’s seat. I
absolutely love when people in authority are humble, genuine, nice and
RESPECTFUL. Message delivery is key. (DO NOT STOP on the skyline drive, even if it
means squashing a baby bear.)
(For all of you law enforcement officers – thank you for
everything you do day in and day out – I really do respect and appreciate what
you do – but there is definitely a way to approach people and situations and a way NOT to approach people and situations. I prefer the personality of the ranger at the top of the post...awww.)
To a long life for that baby bear,
Megan