’Tis the season for road rage! I was in my car at the shopping centre, reversing back and forth and trying to park between those pesky white lines, when a bloke started banging on my window.
I wound down the window, to see what the issue was, when he sprayed me with abuse using words I have not heard since my husband questioned if I really wanted an epidural during labour for our first born.
Hasn’t this angry motorist seen someone take a few goes at getting between those white lines before?
He wanted to leave in his car, next to mine, and couldn’t squeeze in until I had nailed my park. He then got into his car and declared he would hit mine as he reversed out, which he proceeded to do.
By this stage, I was filming him because I wanted to record his registration and I thought he was going to punch me. He gave me more insults and flicked me ‘the bird’ as he drove away. Clearly, something else has happened to this man to make him so full of anger and rage.
I felt quite sorry for him to think my dodgy parking was such a trigger. An 88-year-old woman came to check I was okay. I was fine, but sad to hear her say she was afraid of driving these days because people are so rude on the roads. The local said drivers used to let each other in and give way with patience and goodwill.
Feeling deflated and dejected, I took my dogs to the beach near the Kawana Waters Surf Club where my faith in humankind was restored. Some kind soul attached a basket filled with all sorts of goodies for the dogs who love to run free on that glorious stretch of sand. It has tennis balls for dogs to chase in glee, tennis racket to hit those balls for the canines with big energy and big bounds, and a water bowl is placed at the base of it.
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What an unexpected Christmas act of kindness. It literally stopped me in my tracks. Please leave it well alone, council, as our dog-free beaches are so scarce.
So, this Christmas, maybe give way to a few people on the roads and try to do a surprise act of goodness. I have a funny feeling my husband will be gifting me driving lessons.
Thanks for reading my rot. I so appreciate our friends in this space. May it be a wonderful time for you and your family. Let’s hope 2026 marks an era of slowing down.
Sami Muirhead is a (now semi-retired) radio announcer, blogger and commentator, wife and mum of three
