I have turned into a little old lady.
      I used to have LOVE driving, back home in Washington.
      Not only did I love the winding back roads, the open highways, the twisty hills and mountain passes, but I didn’t even mind the traffic. Many a day I crawled up the 405, rocking out in my little green Ford. Just being behind the wheel was a joy.
      The freedom of it.
      Going where I wanted, when I wanted. Wide, well-designed (mostly) highways and streets thoughtfully aligned in sensible patterns.
      It was glorious.
      Merging on to the freeway? Pfft – never a problem.
      One-way streets? (Except for the time I listened to a local – looking at you, Zebulon! – instead of the signs) Never a problem.
      …but here?
      In Pennsylvania?
      I hate driving.
      Hate. Its a strong word for a strong emotion.
      I hate driving in PA.
      The people are so rude, harried, dangerously aggressive, discourteous. You’re just as likely to get hit trying to politely let someone on as you are stopping at a crosswalk to let a kid cross. Merging on to the highways? Not a fucking chance. People don’t get over. People don’t make room. And its not a merge, its a yield. You have to STOP at the end of the ramp and then get over (if you can miraculously make it up to highway speeds before getting rammed up the tailpipe by some a-hole doing 80 in a 55).
      And Harrisburg itself?
      Fuck that.
      Its a maze of poorly marked streets, constant construction, one-way streets, entitled politicians, careless assholes in motor vehicles and on-ramps disguised as streets.
      Its cramped and crammed.
      Its ridiculously laid out, and even the bits that might make a little sense end up being idiotic thanks to the people. The rude fucking people.
      So I’ve decided, if ever I have to go to Downtown HBG again, Mark is driving me, or I am not going.
      This morning started out so nice. I got decent sleep, Mark was home early so we got to cuddle and actually sleep in the same bed at the same time (a rare thing these days), and I decided that my birthday present to myself would be to drive to the SSA office and get my name changed officially. At last.
      …what a waste of a perfectly lovely morning.
      The good news is, it is over. Also, it is Friday. Also, it is my Birthday weekend (and Mother’s Day weekend).
      I am officially Mrs. Albert.
      Hooray!
      Also, even though I think the capital building is lovely, as illustrated by the cover photo of this post, I hate a lot more about Harrisburg than driving in it.
      That’s a rant for another day.
      A rant about the politicians. The debt. The crime. The cronism. The willful ghettoitization of a perfectly lovely little city.

Note: Image “Illumination by Night” by Merlin1075, from SXC.hu