This summer, I was riding home a little later than usual, going down a longish residential street and an old Corolla with two young men and two young women rolled up next to me. "Hey, I like your bike!" one of them shouted. Well, I usually have a non-engagement policy, because people can be crazy and looking for an excuse. Just then another car flew through a stop sign and came shooting out of a side-street right towards us. I honked my Air-Zound horn and the car from the side slammed on its brakes. The teenage car erupted in cheers and thumbs up. Then the driver honked "shave and a haircut" and I honked the "2-bits" part. They did it again and so did I. The third time, I rang my bell. They thought that was the bomb! Then they did the head-nod, and I did the arm flow thing like the Ham-Stars in the Kia commercial. They wished me a good ride and took off. That made up for scores of rude comments and behavior.

I guess I'm getting older, but I engage less. So when some yahoo exhibits anger towards me or threatens me, if it seems like a real threat I grab my phone from its holster, and hold it up. Otherwise I just imagine what kind of hell this hot-head's life must be descending into because of their anger, and then I go on.