When I got my driver's license at 17, I was determined to be not merely a good driver who obeyed all the rules of the road, but a considerate, kindly driver that every other driver on the road would point to as a symbol of courtesy and decorum.

Now that I'm 52, my patience has waned, I've decided most other drivers are A) suicidal and/or B) homicidal and it is either kill or be killed out there. Drivers run stop signs, red lights, pedestrians and other cars off the road. It's gotten to the point that stopping for anything, anytime, is nothing less than asinine. When there's a stop sign, I stop. When a light turns red, I stop. When a child on a bike is crossing the street in front of me, I STOP! I cannot tell you how many drivers have given me the finger or made some other "screw you" gesture simply because I had the nerve to obey traffic laws. And, I confess, I have been known to hoist up my own middle finger, especially when some nut nearly causes me to die.

Something weird--and scary--has been happening lately. When I give a middle finger salute or even a polite horn toot to the driver who just ran a stop sign and forced me to stand on my brakes, that person has FOLLOWED AND THREATENED ME! I kid you not; it's happened at least three times in the past few months. I've been chased, nearly rear-ended and terrified for my existence--just because I had the gall to defend myself with an obscene gesture! Fortunately, I've managed to evade these crazy drivers by going to places where I know police cars hang out, but damn--what is WRONG with everyone?

My husband constantly discourages me from taking any action when another driver irritates or nearly murders me. "One day, one of them is going to have a gun, shoot you in the head, and I'll have to go out wife-hunting again," he complains. "I've got you trained right, so please, stop being aggressive! You don't like it when people are aggressive with you!"

Granted, but at least I've never followed other drivers with the intention of scaring the crap out of them! Am I wrong? I mean, isn't giving the finger less aggressive than chasing down another driver just because he or she GAVE you the finger? Is it New York? Is it me? Why can't I just let dumb drivers like this go about their business without trying to show them the error of their ways?

My first blog, and it's a rant. Weird thing is, nothing ugly happened today. No one did anything to upset or anger me, except maybe for driving too slowly, or not taking off quickly enough from a red light, or stop sign, or. . . Oh, no! I have met the enemy, and she is ME!