my pride has brought me low

Last night we took the YW who will be at girls' camp to SL to see the new movie. Let me first say:

HUZZAH!! to CK and Emmie for their roles in the film. Well done, friends. You both deserve more air time.

What a great film. Here was my first hint: they portrayed the dark part before the vision. No one ever talks about that part, and it makes the light so much more glorious. Cheers.

That being said...

I cried. I'm like that. I had that somber, on-the-verge feeling as we left. We got out of the show at 8:45, and we were in the parking garage for a good thirty minutes, trying to leave. I had in my car: a 13-year old, a 12-year old, and three 11-year olds. Upon leaving the city, we listened to the radio, and guess what song was on: Alice's Restaurant, which I rate up there with My Ding-A-Ling, and which I haven't heard since I was about 10 years old. Until...Arlo mentioned Group W, and I thought, "Mmm...not the right song for this audience." Off with the radio, and in with a CD...Katie's choice (she being shotgun) was Guster, of which she had never heard. During the second song, I was telling the girls about how sometimes I sing this one with my brother (who, for most of them, is a former PE teacher) when he plays his shows. (*note*: The reference in that last sentence is not in past tense because now that James and I are in the same state again, I hope to continue this activity.) At this point we were in The Carpool Lane, a little past Sandy, and it was very bumpy, so we moved one lane over. Just like the car behind us did. Before the lights came on.

"Ah, dang."

I pulled over, and the girls thought we had a flat tire. "What are we doing?"

"Uh, look behind us."

I started to gather the necessary documents and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, Officer Peckerson (let's not embarrass the "man" by giving his actual name, shall we?) pounded on Shotgun Window. As I was rolling the window down, he yelled/demanded, "ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN PLEASE" Yeah, thanks. I was doing just that. "MA'M I'M OFFICER PECKERSON AND BLAHBITTY BLAHBLAHBLAH ARE YOU AWARE OF THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT HERE ON INTERSTATE FIFTEEN"

*thinking: Yes, and it should be 75 like the rest of the country*

"No, sir."

"IT IS SIXTY-FIVE AND I HAD YOU CLOCKED AT EIGHTY-FIVE *his own little pause for gasp or apology, of which he received none* NOW DO YOU HAVE YOUR LICENSE AND PROOF OF INSURANCE AND STATE REGISTRATION"

I took my time going through my paperwork, half because I didn't know what I was looking for and half because I thought this guy was being a jerk. Finally passed him the papers and he went back to his car.

That's when the girls started saying, "He had his GUN in his HAND!" "His gun was pulled." "Why was his gun out like that?" I explained that when An Officer approaches anyone, they will usually have one hand on their gun, which is in their holster, for safety. "He had it IN HIS HAND!" I immediately got visions of rumours flying around the ward & neighborhood about how The Cop Pulled His Gun Out And Aimed It At Jenny, etc., etc..

Little Man P. came back with his little form and told me to go to Sandy Court, call this number, and sign here. After I read the form (again, taking my time), I signed it. And then dropped his pen into the endless pit of despair that is the area between the driver's seat and shotgun in my van. "UH YOU CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND KEEP THAT" I said, "No thanks," and took my time finding the tainted pen. When he handed me the portion of my ticket, I said I had a question and he walked away. I yelled, and Katie yelled out the window, "Officer!" to no avail. So I got out of my car and just stood by my door, facing his car until he came back to talk with me. "Officer, as you can see, I have a group of young girls here in the car with me, and they told me that as you were talking to me, your gun was drawn. Now, this scared them, and I don't want any rumours about this situation, so would you please tell me, did you have your gun drawn?"

"MA'M ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PARTS OF MY JOB IS WHEN I PULL SOMEONE OVER FOR SPEEDING AND AS YOU CAN SEE (*I notice at this moment that he is dressed like a thug*) I AM OFF DUTY AND NOT WEARING A HOLSTER (*No, he is holding his gun, which is in a little protective pouch - like a purse - under his arm*) THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD HAVE APPROACED YOUR VEHICLE WITHOUT A WEAPON"

After our discussion, I will tell you the rest of the story. But for now, Dear Readers, how many things can you count that are wrong with what Officer Peckerson just said?