Last night I was driving home from a dinner party at my manager's place up in the hills above Beaver Creek in a place called Wildridge when I looked in my rear view window to see those oh so familiar flashing red and blue lights. Well, not that familiar because I can't remember being pulled over in the last ten years or so, but you know what I mean.

I pull over immediately to the shoulder. The cop, one Sgt. McGovern, walks up and when I roll down the window I get the standard, license, insurance and registration. All of which, fortunately, I have. That hasn't always been the case.

I had three Negra Modelos at the party but I had waited almost 2 hours before hitting the road and wasn't drunk at all, but that didn't mean I wasn't nervous. My eyes have been really red lately becasue I started wearing contacts all day for the first time in at least 5 years, and I haven't been getting much sleep (I blame the altitude and the kittens). And getting pulled over at any time for any reason is unsettling.

Sgt. McGovern tells me that he pulled me over because I was going a little quick coming down the hill. In fact I misjudged one of the curves and almost flew off the side of the mountain. I agreed with him and said that I just moved into the area and didn't know the streets very well, but I slowed immediately when I realized I was going to fast for the road. Then he went back to his car, presumably to run my DL.

Thankfully, I don't have any points nor any outstanding warrants, so when he came back about five minutes later he let me go with a warning to watch my speed. Thanks, officer.