One thing we've noticed since being here is that everyone is so polite. People go out of their way to open doors for you, they call you "Sir" or "Ma'am", and are generally very well mannered. This also flows over to drivers on the road. They are very patient, courteous and again, well mannered. It wasn't until we had been driving here for a week or two that we noticed that we would hardly ever hear a car horn, and if we did hear one, it would usually only be a very short polite honk at the lights if the car in front obviously hadn't seen the green light and was sitting there for quite some time.
Well, that is until we had our recent visitors from NZ...
We won't mention any names, as we don't want to embarrass anyone, but one of our visitors decided to have a go driving on our lovely roads here, and in particular, on our very impressive interstate system. And it was getting off one interstate highway to join another highway that the incident occurred. The unnamed driver missed the sign that signaled that the required off ramp was just ahead, and only at the very last moment realised that it had just about passed. Quickly, our guest swerved to the right (off-ramps are typically on the right over here - naturally), crossing the median painted lines that signified the divide between the interstate that the car was leaving and the off ramp being taken.
Although on sealed road all the time, and there was no great danger or anything like that, there did happen to be a car close behind who obviously got a fright with the sudden swerve in front of him and proceeded to sound his horn, long and hard, in a most un-Kentucky like fashion. He then quickly pulled out to the right and came up along side our car, window down, fist out the window and shouting. After a few moments, he pulled back in behind and then stayed close behind in what might be taken as an intimidating fashion, while the occupants of our car giggled nervously at what had just happened. No great harm done, and it was all over - the guy behind would get over it.
Or so they thought...
A mile or so down the road, the car behind then pulls up beside our car again and stays level with it in the right-hand lane. Sonia, imagining what the guy was doing, suggested everyone just don't look at him. But curiosity got the better and she glanced over... only to see him looking across at our car with a sheepish look on his face and mouthing the words "I'm sorry!!".
?!?
That's right - this guy had been all angry, honked his horn and shook his fist out the window just a moment ago, but it was seemingly so out of character for these parts that he had become remorseful and felt he had to go out of his way to apologise at 70 miles per hour on Interstate 64.
There you go - road rage Kentucky style. You have to see it to believe it...
