One morning, I was driving to the market, minding my own business, when I suddenly heard a police siren. I looked in my mirror and saw the flashing lights behind me.

I wasn’t speeding. I wasn’t driving poorly. I was thinking about my market list.

I pulled over, wondering what I could have done wrong. The police officer walked up to my car, looking very serious. He asked for my license and registration. Then he said, “Ma’am, did you know your license plate sticker is expired?”

Right then, I remembered. I did have the new stickers. I had put them in my glove compartment weeks ago and completely forgot to put them on.

I informed him that the stickers were in my glove compartment, but I had forgotten to attach them.”

He looked at me like he had heard this story many times. Then he asked, “Ma’ma, how long have you lived here. After I told him, he said very firmly, “By this time, you should know the law and abide by it.”

Message received.

He warned me to put the sticker on today and said that next time, I would receive a citation. I’m pretty sure the only thing that saved me from receiving a ticket was my gray hair—it must have made me look responsible enough to get a second chance.

I thanked him, promised to fix it right away, and drove off with a new respect for the law.