I live in a rural area west of Seattle, but work in the metro area, in what is debatably the area with the worst "road rage" in the country. In heavy rush hour traffic, where most adults are acting out their frustrations that would earn any toddler some well-deserved time out, a swat on the butt, or both, some "drivers" are downright mean and deadly. If you can avoid riding in this type of traffic, do so! You are a convenient target for the frustrations of the caged masses.

If you must travel these roads, be aware of your surroundings at all times. This is not the time to think about that relationship that could’ve/should’ve/would’ve, nor is it the time to think about all the things you must do around the homestead. All of your energies need to be devoted to avoiding not only the cars, but the wrath and ire of your "fellow" motorists.

First, a few deep breaths.... All of us have been in situations where the actions of someone in a cage have almost killed us. Whether it is a sudden lane change (or three), lane sharing, stopping on onramps for no good reason, or tailgating, rubbernecking, etc., ad nauseam, we can avoid these. What you must do in these circumstances is NOT lower yourself to this subhuman level. You must fight the urge to use the ol’ middle finger, ball bearings, pennies, or whatever method you use for retaliation. This can get you killed! In Washington State, we have an average of one highway shooting per day (lots of Californians have moved here and ruined it for the rest of us). Resist the temptation to express your displeasure at a person who feels that they OWN the road. If you must express yourself, wave and smile. It may be that the "driver" of the other vehicle simply didn’t see you.