-Isms: Views on life in rural America

Film producer Rick McCallum said, “It’s easy to be a backseat driver. It’s even easier to be a backseat driver when you’re not even in the same car.”

Spoken like a true backseat driver.

I never realized how often I make driving suggestions to Scott until Sunday, when he drove to Verdigre.

As we near Royal, I politely suggest we should take the road past Grove Lake to avoid road construction on Highway 14.

There was construction earlier in the week when the grandkids played baseball in the Kolach Capital of the World, so we opt for the scenic route, past Mars, mirroring the meandering Verdigris Creek.

We’re halfway along the winding gravel road when a friend texts, letting us know the highway is smooth sailing, at least today.

He slows down for the stop sign and I offer more unsolicited advice: Make a right-hand turn, heading toward the highway, instead of venturing north to the back road into the Czech village.

The look on his face, well ... It wasn’t quite an eye roll, but I firmly believe Scott was thinking, “Right turn, Clyde.” (I hope I don’t have to explain this Clint Eastwood quote. It dates me.)

Those suggestions could be the impetus behind him handing the keys to me on Saturday, when I queried if he planned on turning at a specific intersection to head downtown to the farmer’s market.

I’m positive the fact that I asked a handful of times had absolutely, positively nothing to do with it.

Positive.

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a horrible backseat driver. It has nothing to do with the need to be in control and it’s not a defense mechanism, as “Psychology Today” suggests.

I attribute it to all the solo windshield time when I drove from the farm to teach in O’Neill, then to the newsroom in Neligh and back home at the end of long days. I know where I’m going, I know what shortcuts to take. I’m confident about my abilities and am not afraid to share my expertise.

Am I to assume Scott, the driver, thinks the same as LuAnn, the navigator? We’ve been together for nearly 18 years, but we’re not always on the same wavelength, especially when it comes to driving and navigating.

I have news for my dear husband. The backseat driving critiques more than likely won’t slow down. I’m guessing he has news for me, too.

“I’m not listening,” he tells me.