Schadenaude

Martha is a retired police officer.  In the beginning of our relationship, when I was still suffering from PTSD and fear of the world, it was very comforting to me to have her protection.  I was proud of the awards she won for her work with crime victims and the work she did to protect kids from molesters.  She was the epitome of the ‘good cop’.  Except for one thing - when off duty she was always being stopped for speeding.  But then she would show her badge and get off scot free.  Even after she retired, that retired badge would save her from the tickets and fines.  It drove me nuts and I was always harping on her that she should be setting a good example, yada, yada, yada.  It fell on deaf ears.

Then my daughter married an Air Force veteran and it's the same thing!   He told me that he has never gotten a speeding ticket.  Then I asked how many times he had been pulled over and he said many, many times but his military ID always got him out of it.  Arghh!

I can’t count the times I reminded them that they both had careers where they swore to serve and protect.  Protect!  Yet, they felt entitled to ignore speed limits and put everyone else at risk - just because they would never suffer the consequences like everyone else.  

Well, my day has come.  The adjacent city is now using cameras to record speeders and they both got tickets -  in the mail.  Ha!  I guess those cameras don’t care if you have a badge in your wallet.  Should I be taking pleasure in their having to pay substantial fines?  Probably not.  But am I?  Absolutely.