Since I’d spent Wednesday, Thursday, and the better part of Friday in bed sick -I thought I’d venture out on Saturday to check out the International JazzFest at Campus Martius & Hart Plaza, in Downtown Detroit. Had to drive out to Grosse Pointe Woods to pick up my big sister, and little nephew first.

Stopped at the bank at the intersection of Mack and Warren  – then headed out Warren towards I-94. Well, I was all prepared to make that right off Warren onto Cadieux when I spotted the gentlemen selling the Sunday paper. The headline was screaming something about a plea deal offer made by Kwame Kilpatrick – so I stopped turning to reach in my pocket for a dollar to buy the paper.

Apparently the driver behind me didn’t appreciate that I wasn’t in a rush to make the light, and began to blow her horn – repeatedly. That’s not uncommon in Detroit, so I just ignored her and continued my inconsiderate transaction. Yeah – I knew it was inconsiderate.

Anyway – as I pass the paper guy the dollar I notice the passenger in the car behind me getting out to approach my car. He appeared to be a rather well-fed, not necessarily law-abiding citizen – but I still didn’t move. I doubt if 5 seconds had passed between the light turning green and this guy getting out the car. We both still had plenty of time to make the light. I wasn’t scared. We were still pretty close to the Pointes, and trust me, some kind suburbanite would have taken his picture, written down his license plate, and called 911 before  the guy managed to kill EVERYBODY in the car.

So I get my paper, give the chick  in the other car the finger, and I drive off. But I have to ask – what the hell is wrong with people today? Was it really worth getting THAT bent out of shape over a light you were still going to make? And what was this guy thinking when he got out of the car? Was he going to cuss me out? Kick a whole in my car? Shoot me? (actually, shoot my sister – he was approaching on the passenger side).

Did I mention girlfriend could have gone around my car at any time? Was it really THAT deep? Would I have been just as upset if I had been kept waiting? Would you? Keep me honest, here.