Friday afternoon about 5, I was driving my 80,000 pound semi down US 12, about 8 miles west of Niles, MI headed to Laporte. As I rounded a bend and looked ahead, I saw a red pickup fishtailing. I figured he pulled out of a driveway and was just goofing around. I quickly realized this was not the case. He lost control and went back and forth until he backed it into the guardrail on my side of the road.
I had plenty of time to slow and stop. Traffic behind me did the same. I got out and asked if they were ok. 2 guys in their mid to late 20's. They said they were fine. I began to wonder if they were drinking or just being stupid. "It caught me off guard" said the driver. I looked down the road. A huge swan standing about 100 yards away. He had swerved to miss the bird. I scolded him. "NEVER SWERVE TO MISS ANYTHING BUT A PERSON. What if I had been 30 seconds further down the road? I would have killed you both!" That got his attention and he agreed.
Again I looked down the road. A narrow beam of sunlight was illuminating the swan. This time his head was straight up in the air and its wings were puffed out a bit. I wondered what he was thinking. "That was for my sister" or just a big F U all.
The guy started the banged up truck and got it out of the road. I got moving again and as I passed the spot where the swan had been, he was lazily getting into the lake. Job well done!
And then I laughed...... Hard.
I had plenty of time to slow and stop. Traffic behind me did the same. I got out and asked if they were ok. 2 guys in their mid to late 20's. They said they were fine. I began to wonder if they were drinking or just being stupid. "It caught me off guard" said the driver. I looked down the road. A huge swan standing about 100 yards away. He had swerved to miss the bird. I scolded him. "NEVER SWERVE TO MISS ANYTHING BUT A PERSON. What if I had been 30 seconds further down the road? I would have killed you both!" That got his attention and he agreed.
Again I looked down the road. A narrow beam of sunlight was illuminating the swan. This time his head was straight up in the air and its wings were puffed out a bit. I wondered what he was thinking. "That was for my sister" or just a big F U all.
The guy started the banged up truck and got it out of the road. I got moving again and as I passed the spot where the swan had been, he was lazily getting into the lake. Job well done!
And then I laughed...... Hard.
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