Sally the Backseat Driver

Sally, the Backseat Driver"Ah! P. G. look out!"

"Sally, I've been driving since I was nine. Relax."

"P. G., did somebody just blow the horn at us?"

"Yes, the driver behind us did that."

"Why? Are you going too slow?"

"No, Sally. I'm doing the speed limit. The driver wants to drive faster than the speed limit."

"Are we gonna make it on time, P. G.? Do you need to speed up?"

"Yes, Sally, we'll make it on time. The school is only 15 minutes away."

Screeeeeech!

Thump!

"Sally, are you okay back there?"


"Ohm mmm hmmom."

"What did you say, Sally? Sally? Oh, no! Let me pull over."

"It's okay. I lost my voice for a second. What happened?"

"That driver tried to pass me and ran out of room. I couldn't get over because of the guardrail. He almost ran us off the bridge. Are you okay?"

"Yup. Crazy fool! Why did he do that? He could've killed me!"

"Yeah... Are you back in the seat? Why didn't you have your seat belt on?"

"Uh, hello? I have stirrups for hands!"

"Oh, yeah. You don't need to get wise about it. Let me help you."

"P. G. why do people drive like that?"

"Power, Sally. Some people don't use their power to control their own lives; instead, they try to take power over the lives of others."

"Power... like electricity?"

"No, Sally. People power. Some people are given power over others and then they use that power to make the lives of others miserable. They play games with the people they are given power over instead of working with them to succeed."

"Games? Like Operation? I love that game! I like when the buzzer go off."

"No, Sally. Mind games that hurt the other person and tear them down emotionally."

"That doesn't sound like a fun game."

"It isn't, Sally. That's why you should not give anyone the power they want over you by acknowledging their mind games."

"Ah, you mean like getting mad at him for making me fall off the seat?"

"Uhm, yes and no. Yes on the getting angry part, but no on the seat part."

"But he made me fall off the seat!"

"Sally, that part was not completely his fault. That's another conversation ..."

"Well, who am I supposed to get angry with about that?"

"Nobody. Remember? Power?"

"Oh... it's you, isn't it?"

"Let's listen to the radio, huh, Sally?"