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The first time I got pulled over by a cop, I was scared shitless.
I’m sure most people are the first time they get stopped. It was actually only about a year ago and before that I’d never had more than a parking ticket. And honestly when I got the parking ticket I still felt guilty.
I was freshly unemployed (by choice) and… really not able to afford that.
Like at all. $300 was almost my whole checking account.
And thankfully all those video games over the years helped me think back to something my Dad always said. He’d say it over and over and over. Like he was verbally drilling it into my head.
“Christopher…”
Uh oh, my full name. That meant he was serious. He was a Navy vet and sometimes far too intense for his own good.
This is what I was told to say.
“Yes sir”.
“No sir”.
“I’m sorry sir”.
“Thank you sir”.
With direct eye-contact.
So I tried it and as I drove away ticket-free I kissed my hand and touched the roof of the car. My Dad, for the millionth time, even beyond this world, saved me.
He passed in 2012 after a cancer diagnosis that came, seemingly, out of nowhere. But at least once a week, some little nugget of wisdom pops back up and I smile.
Thank you, sir.
Previously published on Medium
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Photo by David Straight on Unsplash