Highway Humor

Sometimes things happen that simply force a person to perk up and wonder about the fun things in the world. That’s what happened to my sister and I yesterday. Honest! We weren’t stalking the poor man. We just happened to be interested in his amazing traveling companion and we were going to the same place.

It all began when we were on our way to Glacier Park. That’s our backyard playground, you remember. We came up behind a man driving a vintage Volvo sports car. Vintage show cars are very common around here. It seems like half the population living here or visiting have at least one specimen garaged at home, which are brought out on the weekend.

Regardless of the little red car, it was the occupants in said convertible that held our attention. As we pulled up behind them in the right lane, sister began choking on her laughter.

I could tell she was still looking straight ahead and tried to figure out why she was reacting as she did. After a few minutes, I realized that the passenger was extremely tall. Sitting at least two heads taller than the driver was a dog.

I know what you’re thinking. Yeah, right. The dog sat that high in a sports car? Sure, I believe that. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

Fortunately for me, it’s true.

Jo passed the car so we could get a better look, and there in the passenger seat was the largest dog either of us had ever seen. Let me put it this way. It was so large that if it stood on its hind legs, it would easily have been close to seven feet tall. I’m sorry, but that qualifies as tall to this sight-challenged gal.

Light brown in color, the beast looked to Jo to be a cross between Great Dane and Irish Wolf Hound. Both are huge animals. Combined, they are mind-boggling.

Jo kicked herself for not being able to get a picture of the car, the driver (an older gentleman), and the passenger in his doggy seat belt harness. She wanted to be able to show the fact that the animal had to lower its head to rest it on the top of the windshield.

We got far enough in front of the convertible to pull over so she could whip out the camera and get ready. She didn’t bother getting out of the car. And wouldn’t you know it, he was going too fast for her to get a shot.

That’s when we pursued the subject. In passing, I told her that this was the first time I remember her turning into paparazzi, to which she told me never to call her that insulting name again. I’m sorry, but that was what turned the whole event hysterical. I couldn’t help myself.

For me, it became a case of the Keystone Cops after that. Of course, anyone listening in could have accused me of having a more serious problem at the time. I couldn’t stop laughing. The whole situation just kept getting funnier by the minute.

What made it even worse was the dog. Jo kept wondering if the driver and dog were talking back and forth. Why? Because the dog kept looking back at us to see if we were still there. Lips and ears flying, he’d turn that fawn-colored head and stare at us, turn it back and lean forward as if to make their car go faster.
We moved along the highway in our two-car caravan for several miles before our subject turned into the Glacier Park entrance. Jo had him in her sights. A chortle of satisfied pre-shot ecstasy escaped her with the thought of having cornered her prey.

That’s when disappointment not only reared its ugly head but body slammed us as well. The car with fascinating occupants turned down a private road to a residential area instead of moving forward into the park proper.

Being an ethical person, my sister didn’t continue to follow him. She refused to be accused of stalking for the capture of a photograph. That kind of behavior simply isn’t acceptable. After all, the open highway is public domain. A person’s driveway isn’t.

As a result, we went on into the park to find as yet unseen treasures to put on film and take home for memory files and possible professional use.

We will never forget those moments of mirth. We managed to laugh through much of the remaining afternoon.

Moral of the story. Just because life hands you a wonderful piece of humor to lighten your heart and bring a smile to your face, doesn’t mean that photos will be easy or possible. Perhaps the mere memory of the sight or event is all that’s allowed the viewer as a memento of the occasion.