Caught in the Act

What a glorious day. The temperatures were mild, the sky was blue, and I was headed for the Y to work out. I turned on the radio and was pleased to find some Christmas carols. They matched my happy mood entirely. I started singing along as I made my way up Long Pond Road, past the Greece Ridge Mall. The area is mostly residential and the speed limit is 35 nearly all the way.

I guess lots of people were light hearted because of the weather because the traffic was heavy. I kept changing lanes to avoid cars turning or going a poky 20 mph. Joy to the World came on the radio, and I let loose. The orchestra had a jazzy version going, and I was at full volume when I spotted the whirling red lights in my rear view mirror.

Jolted with surprise, I glanced at my speedometer. 50! Yikes. I looked for a good place to pull over and took the next right into a church parking lot about a block from the Y. Phooey. He had me dead to rights. I unhooked my seat belt and dug for my driver's license and car registration, then opened my window.

After a few minutes, an officer approached the car. "Good morning, Ma'am."

"Good morning, Officer."

"Do you know why I pulled you over?"

I hung my head. "Yes. I was speeding."

"Do you know how fast you were going?"

"Well, when I saw your lights, I looked down and was doing 50."

He snorted a bit. Uh-oh. "Well, you were doing 57 when you passed me."

"Oh, dear."

"Where are you headed?"

I pointed down the street. "To the Y."

"Planning to work out a bit?"

"Yes, sir."

"Late for class? That why you were going so fast?"

"No. Its just that they were playing Joy to the World on the radio, and it was kind of zippy. I was singing along and I guess I wasn't paying much attention."

"I see." His eyebrows went straight up and he was trying to suppress a laugh. He made a wry face and handed me back my license and registration. I think he was biting his tongue. "Well, do you think you can slow down now?"

"Yes, sir."

"OK. You can go. Try not to sing and drive."

"Thank you!" I couldn't believe it! He had me dead to rights, and he was letting me off the hook. Man, was I grateful for his mercy. His shoulders were shaking as he walked back to his car. He must have thought I was crazy. I am constantly having problems with mixing music and driving. Good thing the Y is only a block away.