IF - I can condense this story - it is well-worth hearing. It's about 'your' "OPP Traffic Control Helicopter".

In the mid-1970's <1976, I think> We drove down from Detroit, through Ontario, to Niagra Falls for a family vacation. The wife and I - Four small children - and my Mother. I had 'helped' my newly widowed-Mother obtain her driver's license ... and she was 'pretty good'. I reasoned that a 'road trip' might be JUST what she needed, to season her driving skills and confidence = <I used to be a proffesional Driving Instructor>. AND it would be prudent to convoy in two cars rather than one ....

Well, we took our time - had a great vacation - no worries..! - - and then started back home.

I told my Mother <who had at least ONE of her grand kids with her at all times> that I would just drive the speed limit AND watch for her. If she had any problems = just flash your headlights and I would pull over.

Things went well for MOST of the trip = = then I realized she was NOT close behind. So slowed down a little and after ten minutes or so - decided I should pull over a wait for her. <I KNEW i could NOT circle back and find her - that would only make conditions worse> ... so, there we sat ... on 'pins & needles' ....

Later <20-30 minutes> an OPP cruiser pull over ... a very TALL, masculine Officer got out and walked over to us. His face was red ... he was smiling ... and he asked if I were Bob Foreman..! (I KNEW everything was alright then ...) I said "Yes Sir .... is there a problem?" He said Oh NO .... I just left your Mom back down the road apiece ... everything is fine ... she will be along shortly."

He was very polite ... and Always Smiling ... and seemed to be trying to NOT laugh..! (?)

I asked him again ... "Was there a problem?" To which he said "Well, she DID have a little bit of car trouble - - but everything is fine now ... she'll be right along". ....and with THAT, he said he hoped we would have a nice trip home - - and walked back to his cruiser. <Now, I couldn't HEAR - but his shoulders were shaking like he was laughing> .... and he waved as he passed by ....

A trucker who had been following her - - pulled around her - - tooted his horn and waved - and went on his way... So we asked Mom "What Happened?" .......... this is her story:

Everyhting was fine for a while ... then you got farther & farther ahead ... I was falling farther behind ...

So I began flashing my headlights .... you don't notice - being so far ahead .... then you disappeared over a hill. So I speeded up ... I was going faster & faster. SOME people were passing me - but I was passing A LOT of people too. It was a little scarey - and a little exciting..!

Then I realized I was all alone - not much traffic around ... Then i heard the helicopter VERY close ....

they had caught me Speeding..!!!! I slow down ,,,, but the helicopter was NOW so close that it touched the roof - - and SHOOK the car..!! So I pulled over....

Then, this Big OPP cruiser pulled up behind me. (I was afraid he was going to arrest me..!) I got out of the car - - and look up in the sky - all around - - No Helicopter..! ...???

This Big, Tall Officer walked over and asked: "Whats the problem Ma'am?" I tried to explain that we had become separated - - and that I was ONLY speeding, in order to 'catch up' - - (and I was trying NOT to cry).

The Officer said "No Ma'am ... I don't think so..." But My (scared) six year old son ... said "But it WAS a helicopter..! ...and it the shook the car...! The Officer walked over to the car and checked out the roof ... there were NO marks..! .... then he walked around the car ... looking for damage ... and found I had a flat tire <right, rear>. ....then a truck drove up to us ... driver got out and asked the Officer if he could help.

The truck driver said he was at a rest stop - saw Mom pass him - and then her tire blew out. The driver volunteered to change her tire for her. The Officer thanked him - - took some information on ME - - told my Mother he would find me and let us know everything was OK - - and left. Then I tried to explain this same story to the truck driver - - who told me: "Ma'am, the OPP doesn't HAVE Helicopters..!"

.... but she STILL "didn't get it" - - until I explained that a flat tire - - will SOUND like a helicopter - going Whop, Whop, Whop .... then she was mortified...!

Here is the Sequel, Ted ...

Some years later, while visiting my eldset daughter here in Atlanta ... I got my comeuppance.

Driving in heavy Marietta traffic, I was passing close by the Dobbins Air Force Reserve Base.

As I passed over some rough pavement - - I heard: "Whop, Whop, Whop..." <and this very story popped into mind>.

"Knowing" that I had a flat tire ... and smiling at my Mother's inexperience back then ... I pulled into a parking lot.

I got out, still smiling at the memory, and walked around the vehicle, to see which tire was flat.

Hm-m-m ... No Flat ... ????

Then the SECOND Helicopter flew over my position..! "Whop, Whop, Whop..."

Yes, I told My Mother - who ALSO had a good laugh.

Bob Foreman