SUMMER OF 1992 COCOA FLORIDA

I was 18 and I had an argument (with my then 33 year old stripper) girlfriend. I packed my beat up and rusty 1975 Chrysler Córdoba with furniture and hauled my drunk ass, speeding down U.S. #1 (jamming out to Guns N Roses with my Pioneer tape/radio )from Cocoa to Titusville. I was feeling freedom and great. So great that I waved to a cop that was sitting in the median.

About a mile down the road, I see blue lights flashing. I pulled over and he and he walks up to the side of my car and asks, "Do I know you?" I replied, 'No, why?'

His reply, "Because you waved to me back there. I thought I knew you." Nope! Just happy to be getting out of an abusive relationship.

Officer: "What's all that stuff in the back of your trunk?" Me: "I moved out"

Officer: "You been drinking?" Me: 'Yes sir'

Officer: "About how much?' Me: "About a fifth of Jack Daniels"

Officer: "Wow!" You seem pretty sober for drinking that much alcohol. How much further you gotta go and where you going?" Me: 'My parents house, which is about 3 more miles.'

Officer: "Ok, be safe and slow it down. I'm not going to arrest you because your speech is normal and honest and had the guts to be straight with me. Me: "Ok, thank you" (heart racing, thinking; damn I'm going to the slammer and no one's gonna bail me out.)

Similar incidents happened a few times in my late teens and early 20's. Thankfully never got locked up for it. I finally smartened up and realized it was frikken selfish of me and that I could hurt or kill someone.