I don't, as a rule, deliberately listen in on other people's conversations. But there's a woman at work who talks constantly, and sometimes she's hard to tune out.

Just now, I overheard a conversation that I really have to comment on.

She was talking about driving along the interstate, and a guy came up behind her at a high speed, and then just sort of lingered behind her, pulling up and backing off and pulling up and backing off and weaving but not getting out of the lane.

I thought, Oh, a drunk driver. I hate that.

But as she continued to talk, it became apparent that she had been worried that the driver was after her, personally. Eventually, she pulled into the fast lane, and he zipped by, and she said something like, "Thank god he wasn't targeting me."

And all I can do is say... WHAT? What kind of terrible state of paranoia does someone have to live in, that at the first sign of belligerent/abberant behavior, you worry that it's focused on you? I mean, worry that you'll get hurt -- sure. I grok that. No one wants to get killed by a drunk driver.

But to skip completely over the thoughts of, "Where's a speed trap when you need one?" and "Gosh, I hope this drunk asshole doesn't run me off the road," and go straight to, "Oh my god he's after me!" ... I don't get that. I just... don't.

Is it me? Or is it her? I hope it's her. I know I have a mutant worrybrain, but I don't think I could stand living with that kind of constant paranoia.