The "Wheel World" - Las Vegas

Do people really think they’re invisible once they get behind the wheel of an automobile? I really want to know the answer to this question. Here's why...coming home from work tonight, I observed some mighty bizarre behavior, and thought it prudent to make a couple of observations about people’s car-etiquette.

Let me preface this story by saying that I live in Las Vegas, and “what happens here…” is supposed to stay here. But I am certain this goes on worldwide.

I pulled up next to a rather attractive woman at a stoplight, driving a late-model Lexus SC, and she was holding her hand, palm side up, in front of her mouth. At first, I thought she was yawning, but as the hand stayed in the same position for about 15 or 20 seconds, and her lips were only slightly parted, I realized that she was smelling her own breath. Checking herself out for bad breath. The jury (of one) was apparently having a rough time coming to a verdict. I am DYING to know just what that decision was.

A couple of stoplights later, there was a middle-aged man in a convertible and I SWEAR he had a finger inserted in his left ear UP TO HIS WRIST. So furiously was he digging, I was convinced he must have been searching for intelligent life somewhere in there. (It didn't look too promising).

I got to the last stoplight before entering the freeway tunnel and a young woman in a Prius lifted her left arm and SNIFFED HER ARMPIT. Yep, doing the pit check before reaching her destination, which was probably a clandestine assignation of some sort. I hope, for the sake of the party on the other end of her journey, the odor emanating from that particular part of her body was a pleasant or at least neutral one. However, I thought to myself, if she's questioning the scent of her armpits...she might have other, more pungent issues to address. Eww.

Then, once I got on the freeway itself, I passed a Toyota Camry carrying two men. The passenger was pulling his T-shirt over his head. I assume he was changing clothes, but the possible outcomes of that particular scenario are many and varied.

The thing is, we get into our automobiles, and become completely oblivious to those around us. For safety reasons, we certainly can't install curtains or blinds on the windows. So we do breath checks, pit checks, ear digs, change clothes, and we do all of this, and more, as though our cars offer us complete invisibility from the outside world.

Umm, they DON'T. So beware...others traveling next to you just might be watching...and writing...about you.