Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 274 – GBY-6217

[Mahler]

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 274 – GBY-6217

GBY-6217 (09-28-09)

I present to you today, the infamous GBY-6217. Okay, now I have your attention and, better still, have you scratching your head wondering what the hell I am talking about. Well it certainly is not my secret Swiss bank account number, since my bank account, at the moment is on hand to mouth resuscitation. And you can forget about using it to try to get into the family safe. Please, the moths do not like to be disturbed. Finally, with an emphatic no, Professor Langdon did not dial it into the cryptex to gain the secret of Davinci. Besides, the cryptex didn’t have numbers on it; only letters, and we all know the code was A-P-P-L-E. If I have spoiled it for you, just let me say this. Rosebud was a sled.

Thoroughly confused? Good. An occasional dose of confusion helps the mind to focus. At least it does for me. I find that I pay much closer attention when I am initially confused by something. Well, I have toyed with you enough, that is, if you haven’t already moved your cursor to the little “x” at the upper right hand corner of your screen and shut me down already.

Driving to work a few weeks ago, I found myself in traffic (no big surprise at 6:30 in the morning when entering Maryland) and behind a shiny silver vehicle. My CD player was blaring a favorite tune, the lyrics of which seemed rather appropriate to the moment. “I’m not fucking alright. I’m semi-normal.” As we inched along and I got an occasional glimpse of the bumper of this vehicle I noticed the license plate. Yup, now you have it. It was GBY-6217. There was nothing particularly memorable about it, yet it stuck in my mind due to other circumstances. Attached to that same bumper was a bright green sticker with rather beautiful white lettering. I strained to read the message and so pulled a little closer while trying not to rear end the car. It’s not a difficult feat on interstate 83 since most of the cars in the line of traffic maintain a space between them through which one could, with difficulty, pass a sheet of very thin paper. The beautifully lettered bumper sticker read “Earth is our mother. Treat her with respect.”

What a nice thought. What an absolutely beautiful thought. What a positively wonderful thought. Except! The sticker was fastened to the bumper of the biggest honking, gas guzzling SUV that modern automobile engineering could have created without calling it a semi. I wondered what “Mother” was thinking about that? I backed off a bit, since I noticed that the woman driving was now on her cell phone, and I have little confidence in the triple threat of Maryland traffic, cell phones and SUVs. Come on now, you thought I was going to say women drivers, didn’t you? I have to say, in all honesty, that in my daily travails on the interstate, that it’s pretty much a dead heat between the sexes as to which can provide the most memorable and life threatening driving experiences.

As I continued to drive behind the big honking, gas guzzling SUV with the pretty green and white sign, the driver, cell phone in one hand mind you, dropped a lit cigarette out the window and onto the pavement with the other hand. I can only assume that she was pregnant and the fetus was steering. It must have been her last cigarette, because she then unwrapped a new pack and just as blithely dropped the wrapper out the window of the big honking, gas guzzling SUV. Excuse me, but does that bumper sticker actually mean anything to this driver or is it merely an attempt to balance the vehicle? You know? Ass on the driver’s side; bumper sticker on the passenger side.

Well, at least these goings on made me pause to think. How often do we not follow through with the things we profess or say that we will do? We say one thing and do another or even the complete opposite. Or, sometimes, what is worse, we say we will do something and do nothing at all. None of us is above it. I’ve found myself falling off the wagon from time to time or procrastinating when it comes to the things I say I am going to do, especially those things that will benefit me the most. Currently it’s my diet. I have been eating about as good as the crap that woman was throwing from the window of her big, honking, gas guzzling SUV. For you it might be diet, or perhaps not sticking to your routine, not getting in the cardio you promised yourself you would do, or not getting the rest you know you need. Look on your ass people. What does that imaginary bumper sticker say that you have promised to do? Then look in the mirror and ask yourself the same question. When you look, will you find that staring back at you is a big, honking, gas guzzling SUV? Mother is not smiling.

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Copyright 2004-2009 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.

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Have a Great Week!

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[jbb]

Mahler, I don't know how far into Maryland you drive, but if you are in the Howard County area you will notice many cars with the bumper sticker that says "Choose Civility in Howard County". It's interesting that when I see an aggressive driver who is cutting people off, not using turn signals, etc. they often have that Choose Civility sticker on their car. Your post made me think of that.

My theory is that people with bumper stickers on their cars may have more aggressive, or at least assertive, personalities. They put stickers on their vehicles because they want others to know what they think -- their political preference, their religious beliefs, their favorite sports team, what they think is funny, etc.

Now, I'm not condemning people with bumper stickers. If you want to show your pride for your favorite team or honor roll kid or your hobby or dog, then that's cool. If you want to show your support for your political candidate of choice or your sexual preference, fine. I'd prefer that my kid not have to see a tasteless joke or Calvin peeing on something, but if that's what you like to have on your car, well, it's your car. I just think it's interesting when someone cuts me off without signaling or doesn't take their turn in merging traffic and they have a Choose Civility sticker on their car.

[OldGuy]

Riddle motivators - a new trend?

[kingkop182]

I liked it, thanks!!

[Bytsi]

Nice one!