People choose their cars to convey who they are just like they choose their music. A muscle car says something completely different than a station wagon. But, don't judge a book by… you know the rest.

I'm driving a Dodge Challenger with the biggest and fastest engine available when it was built. It was an actual "barn car" in that it spent its first few years in a barn with a car cover on it. When we got it after several years, it still had less than five thousand miles. The owners new oilfield job didn't come with a company car - um, truck. So the Challenger had to go. Lucky us!

I can't say how fast we've driven it, but you pass 120 without noticing. It's like a NASCAR with all the creature comforts.

So, I'm driving through the mid cities just trying to move through the traffic when I notice a grey Honda hatchback expertly changing lanes and taking advantage of every opportunity to advance through what was a moving roadblock. The most impressive thing was that he didn't come off as an aggressive driver. He seemed to always pick the right lane and jump in the one that moved the fastest. It took a lot of work to catch up to him.

He decided I needed some driving instruction, I guess.

His car was stock as far as I could hear and see, but he knew how to make the most of it. Still, he never ran up on anyone or cut anyone off. When I would get stuck behind cars, he would wait for me. It was fun watching as he would perfectly time the flow of traffic. The openings he would take advantage of would just as quickly close behind him leaving me to find a different way. I can't say I was as expert or skillful. But I did keep up mostly. Traffic was awful.

Finally, he had to take an exit so he slowed down to wave and smile and I did the same.

What did I learn from him? That it's not the car, it's the driver. Just like it's not the instrument - it's the player. Also, you will get shown up by the person you least expect. And that's OK.

Learn something from every experience and be humble enough to smile and wave at the person who teaches you that lesson. You will be better for it and someday you can teach someone else.