I'm such a SLUG...

OK, for those of you who have never been to DC or lived in DC, you probably don't know what a DC "SLUG" is. Basically, you park your car in the park and ride and stand in a long line either freezing your butt off or sweating it off, depending on the season, and wait anxiously as the cars pull up and the folks in front of you jump in and take off for the HOV-3 (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane. Yes. I am saying that you jump in a car with total strangers to get a ride to work. Then, at the end of the day, you go stand in line again to repeat this process to get a ride back to your car.

Now I know what you all must be thinking. She is insane. Truth be told I must be because I am putting my life in the hands of the person who just can't seem to leave their Blackberry alone for 30 minutes and proceeds to e-mail or text while driving. Arguing with someone on your cell phone with strangers in the car is another favorite and a SLUG rule breaker. I think a few times I may have gotten the person who hit "Happy Hour" on their way home. I am also such a fan of the person who must listen to a racially charged radio station slamming white people. Hello! I'm white. You picked me up. Think you can change your ghetto station? Now that is one of my favorites, but my complete and total favorite is the one who play their music so loud that I am completely deaf by the time I arrive at my destination. I'll never forget the Marine whose car shook us awake at 6AM with what I think was his daughter's techo dance club CD played at 30 on the volume dial. But, let me share my most recent story with you...

It was Friday night and I was so thankful to be leaving the Pentagon that I raced on my gimpy foot as fast as I could to get in the SLUG line to begin the rat race home. I was in luck. The line was short and it was now my turn. A couple in a red Honda SUV pulled up and said "Horner Road". I jumped, well hopped, in to the back seat and before I knew it we took off like a flash. This crazy lady was insane. I don't think I ever got out of the Pentagon parking lot so fast in my 6 months here. Her hubby, who was riding shotgun and smoking a cigar (another big SLUG no-no) was just along for the ride. He was so busy singing along with the blaring music and moving his hand in just the right motion that he himself could have been Run DMC mixing his tunes. Suddenly, and without asking, the wife changed his station. This didn't seem to bother him as he just let out a "Hey" in the middle of the song...and in beat might I add...and seemed to groove along. So here we go, 90 miles an hour down the HOV (speed limit is 65 by the way) with screeching noise coming from very cheap stock speakers and a crazed woman behind the wheel and her singing sidekick. Just then the husband changed the station back to his music and was singing once again. A few more miles passed and the wife put her CD on. Daddy Mac continued to groove along. Oh, and did I forget to mention that not a word was spoken between them?

Thankfully, my exit was in sight. I'm here I thought. I am back safe and sound. As I climbed out of the SUV and thanked the couple for my ride...not to mention thanked the good Lord for getting me there safe... I felt the irony of the song playing on their stereo as they sped away..."Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna.

So, that is my life as a DC "SLUG". You climb into a total stranger's car and pray for the best. The interesting fact is that after all these years there hasn't been any serious issues. It is just a fact of life here. A fact that I know is shocking and amazing to some of my family members who cannot fathom why anyone would ever do this. I also forgot to mention that there is a web site for DC SLUGS and has everything from pick up points to SLUG and driver etiquette like NO SMOKING Stogie man!

So, the next time you are in DC just hop a slug. All you have to do is climb in, buckle up, and pray for the best.

Happy Slugging!