Everybody’s mad these days. Mad that they got a lousy job, mad that gas costs too much, mad that their coffee is cold or their beer is warm.
You want to know what I’m mad about? I’m mad that we’ve gone and got so freaked out about lawsuits and safety that it’s now illegal to throw your kids or friends in the bed of your truck and go somewhere. I grew up riding in the back of the truck and look at me; I’m still alive and relatively normal. Riding in the bed of a truck is a right of passage, an American standard, and one of the best parts of summer. There’s nothing much like having dad cruise down a dirt road out to your favorite fishing hole or over to the neighbor’s place while your hang on out back with all the dust and straw billowing around you as you, your brother, and your dog all squint to keep it out of your eyes. I can’t believe we’ve gotten to the point where it’s illegal not to be double ratchet strapped and inflatable air bag protected in your 4x4. Thank goodness there are still some places where riding in the back of your truck is still legal, like down on the Farm.