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 Does
“courtesy” really pay? There are times when my faith in this
old- fashioned virtue is sorely tested. As an example: while
driving west from Albuquerque, I was about to pass a
dual-trailer rig when I noticed a slow moving jalopy ahead of
the big truck. I realized that my passing would force the truck
driver to brake at a most undesirable time — just when he
needed to be gaining speed for the next hill — so I held back,
and waved the diesel on. That is courtesy!
Later,
when I did pass the truck, the driver blew his air horn and
waved his hand wildly; and I noticed that the truck belonged to
a company for which a close friend of mine was driver. From his
high perch he had obviously recognized me, and was saying, “Welcome
to Arizona!” So, when I saw a convenient pull-off ahead, I
signaled a stop and drove in. The big truck rumbled by — but
not without another blast of horn and wave. Hmmm!
Well,
I pulled back onto the highway, and caught the truck. Perhaps I
had selected a poor spot for stopping the huge rig. Several
miles further on the signs indicated an interstate rest stop —
lots of room and facilities — so I passed, signaled, and again
pulled off the highway. The big truck roared by without a toot.
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Of
course! I should have realized!! My friend is very conscientious
about company rules, and he will not park until he reaches a
designated company stop. So, I pulled back onto the road and
followed him for about 40 miles. When we came to a well-lighted
truck stop my friend pulled in, and applied those big airbrakes,
just as I had expected. Soon I was close beside him and hurried
to greet my friend as he climbed from the elevated cab.
But
he was not my friend! He was not even friendly!! With a hardness
that indicated difficulty of control he asked, “What do you
mean by following me like this??” My “friend” was
six-foot-three, and must have weighed about 180 pounds.
Well,
I was nice to him. That is courtesy, you know. I explained the
“perfectly natural” mistake, my high regard for the noble
truck drivers, etc., and then asked, “How come you blew your
horn and waved to me?”
“Oh,
that?” And he laughed short and hard. “Just thanking you,”
he said. “That’s courtesy, you know!”
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