Bill Kirby: We can all spot bad drivers, but can we identify them?
"I was once like them but then I turned 9."
– Dan Neill
Something I've noticed about bad drivers, and I wonder if you've seen it, as well?
These would be the ones who seem to be in a rush, who cut people off, who tailgate and change lanes without warning.
I used to joke that most seemed to have a UGA or Bulldog decal on their windshield or bumper. With the football team's national championship, however, there are too many such displays, and the observation is skewed.
Lately I've noticed other indications: A "paper tag," suggesting the vehicle is a recent purchase and "handicapped" license tags, you know, the ones with the little blue symbol.
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Am I seeing this right? Let me know at bkirby@augustachronicle.com.
LOOKING LIKE A STAR: I asked who would play you in the Hollywood movie about your life, and Marty responded quickly.
"I’ve been told, numerous times, that I look like Angela Lansbury," she wrote.
"I used to see the same woman at Starbucks and she always said, 'Hi, Angela' "
"I was standing by my car in an Atlanta parking lot, waiting to pick up a friend, and a man came over and asked for my autograph. I asked who he thought I was (knowing what he would say) and he told me Angela Lansbury.
"I smiled and said, "No, I’m not... He insisted so much that I finally took out my driver’s license and showed him my name. He continued to insist and said he knew that stars carried phone information with other peoples names. He was very insulted. I’m sure, to this day, he tells people how rude Angela Lansbury was to him."
SPEAKING OF MISTAKES: A former Augustan now living near Columbia remembers the opening of the old Martinez Kmart that I wrote about last month.
"I was in this store during the first week it opened. One of the pharmacy folks came on the P.A. and made an announcement encouraging customers to take advantage of the new pharmacy, ending his pitch with '... and thank you for shopping at Walgreens.' "
YOUR MAIL: Well, it took awhile, but the Hawaii postcard from Norman and Margaret Jewett Taylor finally arrived.
"We have just visited Oahu and went to the Paradise Cove Luau, Spitting Cave, Kualoa Ranch and Sugar Mill, 'Iolani palace, Manoa Falls Trail, Dole Pineapple Plantation, Nuanu Pali Lookout, Makapuu Lighthouse Trail and Koko Head District Park."
Meanwhile, Suzette and Devin Morris sent a postcard from Iceland, which they describe as "beautiful country and people. Have enjoyed the waterfalls, glaciers and snowmobiling."
TODAY'S JOKE: An older man went to his lawyer with a request.
"Fred," he said. "As you know, I'm getting up in years. I'm not going to live forever, and I need to make out a will."
"Don't worry," said his lawyer with reassurance. "That's not a problem. Just leave everything to me."
The old man frowned, then said. "Well, I knew you were going to take a slice, but I did want to leave something for the children."
Bill Kirby has reported, photographed and commented on life in Augusta and Georgia for 45 years.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Bill Kirby: Do bad drivers all have something in common?
