Not Your Ordinary Driving Buddy

Have you ever taken a road trip and as you’re driving along you begin to realize there’s either a car in your rearview mirror or one ahead of you that’s been with you for a long time?

This driver becomes your new found Driving Buddy. He goes the same speed as you, passes the pokey people driving in the left lane, etc.My daughter noticed that this past winter when we drove to VA. At one point she made some off handed comment and I asked her what she was talking about. She said the person that had been following us had just taken the exit. Like she’d just lost a buddy.

I felt like we were bonding, because I said, “that happens to me, too!”

On our way home from Chicago last Sunday, I glanced in my rearview mirror and saw it. A burnt orange Nissan Murano with a sunroof, being driven by a dude in a white hat.

We traveled together for an hour or more. In and out of traffic. I’d zig and he’d zig. I’d zag and so would he. We were bonding. Then I realized our exit was fast approaching.

I looked in my mirror and thought about how I wasn’t quite ready to cut the cord. I didn’t want to let my Driving Buddy go. We’d come so far together. Maybe I’d just skip seeing the family.

Nah, common sense prevailed because we hadn’t see my aunt and uncle for about 3 years. So, I found the exit and started to get off.

This was where I paused in my mind. What do I do? Do I wave? Say, “No, I’ll call you”? I was sad to see our time come to an end. We’d travelled a long road together.

In the end, I did nothing. I figured the guy would’ve thought I was a nut job. Might’ve been right, but still.

Have you ever noticed a road buddy? Do you like to lead or follow?