I had the misfortune to be stuck in creeping, bumper-to-bumper traffic along a stretch of I-65 over the weekend, but I was slightly entertained along the way.
Vanity tags can provide a break in the monotony of driving sometimes. And, depending on what’s on the tag can provide several minutes of mind-numbing concentration.
I will admit I have a vanity tag, although I don’t have it because of vanity. I have it just to say who I am. If you’ve seen a tag on a car that reads 10DL3, that’s me.
I know that sometimes vanity tags are almost impossible to figure out. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people ask me what I thought was so special about the third season of American Idol. I guess some minds made out the 10DL to spell Idol. Nope, those are numbers at the beginning, not letters and I can spell better than that even if they were letters.
Since my last name is too long to put on a tag properly, I chose to use the number 10 to indicate the “Tin” part of my name. Phonetically, the DL is for dell. So 10DL is Tindell and there are three folks in my little family explaining the last number.
Once you actually figure something out, it makes sense. But, I will admit that it took me a while to figure out “MZN MOM” on my weekend drive. There were countless others I saw. Apparently vanity tags are becoming more and more common even though the craze is several years old.
Another tag I saw read “2FIT4U.” Seriously, if you’re too fit for me I’d probably recognize it without having to be told. But, I can only assume the occupant of the car was a fitness buff.
Further down the road, I saw “SXYGRL.” Another one that should be obvious if you see the person, but as I drove by the vehicle and glanced at the driver, I could see why they needed to tell it since it wasn’t obvious to the naked eye.
‘PD 4” is one I hope to someday have on my car. Car payments tend to make me wish my car were paid for. Well, just three and a half more years and I can get a tag like that for myself.
There were many other tags I saw that displayed little bits of information about the driver and what they do in life. I saw “SCCRMOM,”TOTH DR,” and even “SKYDVR.” I enjoy seeing these tags and trying to figure out what some people are trying to get across to the readers.
There are some that I’ve never figured out and it drives me crazy. Since I don’t take the time to write most of what I see down, I can’t remember the sequence of letters and numbers later to try and figure it out again.
I’m thinking when I have to get a new tag, I may change up my vanity letters somewhat. I’m thinking “NWSCHK” would be fitting for me. But, then again, I won’t be a news reporter for the rest of my life, so I’ll have to think on that one.
Next time you’re out on the road, take a look at cars passing by you and those that you pass. Vanity plates can be great fodder for games among people in your car. You could even go so far with the game that you make up stories about the person who chose that plate.
CUL8R.

Lisa Tindell is news editor for The Brewton Standard. She can be reached by email at lisa.tindell@brewtonstandard.com.