A Good Memory

I have not written since his birthday. Free time seems very short since I have been trying to get some exercise each night – I often do not even eat until 10 p.m., and then have no energy for writing, even though I have lots of stuff backed up inside me that I need to get out. But once again tonight it is too late to write much.

If I was going to write a lot tonight, much of what I would say would be unhappy. But since I am keeping it short, I will share a good memory that came back to me today when I was driving. I remembered it when I was behind an eighteen wheeler that had one of those “How Is My Driving?” stickers on it.

Kirk and I were in the car, and talking about how people seem to only give feedback in this world when they are unhappy. Very rarely does anyone make the call or send the email about how happy we are with the service we got or whatever. As we were talking about this, a truck went by with one of those stickers. He started laughing and telling me what a good driver the guy was, and that he was going to call the number and tell them. He put the phone on speaker, and this is about how the conversation went:

Operator: Hello, how can I help you?
Kirk: I am calling in a report on one of your drivers.
O: Can you see the truck number on the sticker?
K: Yes, it’s XXXX.
O: Thank you. What is the driver doing?
K: He is driving extremely well.
O: (long pause) Excuse me?
K: He’s a very good driver and he is doing everything right.
O: I’m not sure what you mean.
K: Well, for one, he is driving in a straight line.
O: That’s good right?
K: Yes – I really appreciate it. He is also using his turn signals.
O: I guess that’s good too. (she’s starting to get it now)
K: He is maintaining a perfect distance behind the car in front of him too.
O: Okay.
K: I think he could be the best driver I have ever seen. I would like to commend him for it.
O: All right.
K: He is such a good driver you should give him a raise.
O: I’m afraid I don’t control that sir.
K: Who does?
O: His employer. I do not work for them – this is a service.
K: Can you put me through to his boss?
O: No sir. But I will relay the information to his employer.
K: Thank you – what is your name?
O: Mary (or whatever)
K: Hello Mary. Are you a good driver?
O: Well I guess so.
K: Don’t you know?
O: I guess I am.
K: Well do you drive in a straight line? And use your turn signals?
O: Yes I do.
K: Well you sound like a good driver to me. Would you like me to tell your boss?
O: (laughing now) No, that’s okay.
K: I’d be happy to – just put her on the phone.
O: No it’s really okay.

And so on and so on. Just a typical conversation between Kirk and a stranger. Before hanging up, he made her promise she would really file the report. He loved thinking about that guy getting told someone had called to report him driving perfectly.

As I was thinking about this I thought it is pretty ironic that a person who actually bothered to report someone driving safely was killed by someone else who wasn’t. But that was Kirk, and it’s still a good memory for me. I’m glad it came back.