Arrgghhh...I was driving home and was given a lesson on suspending judgment. I did NOT ask for this lesson...it was GIVEN to me...those are the worst/best kind. Worst because they hurt the most and best because you learn the most. Yeesh!
I was driving home past a casino. The road narrows to virtually one and a half lanes (one and a half lanes!!!-proof that city engineers have a sick sense of humor) just before the entrance ramp to the I-10 freeway. AND, it's vewy vewy dark. So, there I was, tooling along and there, right there, in the middle of the road is a bicyclist! Now, this guy wasn't a recreational bicyclist...no...that would have been cause to embed him in my grill and parade him around through the center of town, making an example out of him. No, this guy was a workin' stiff. He was wearing a hoodie and had his workin' man clothes on. Poor guy. So, my first response was to beep my horn because I was angry that he frightened me...cause ya know, it's all about me...
Then...my heart broke when the realization of his situation poured over me and I was all awash (there's that word Nancy) in self-loathing for my judgmental attitude...so, to protect him, I straddled both lanes and went slowly so no cars could pass me and he could pedal his little workin' man heart out and get through that dangerous spot safely. I know the cars behind me were angry because they couldn't see HIM, all they could discern was a crazy blond in an SUV straddling two lanes and driving way slower than she has a right to, SO THEY'RE JUDGING ME NOW, RIGHT?...by the time I got to my entrance ramp, I wanted so badly to shout to the poor guy, "Hey, biker-dude! I'm so sorry I misjudged you and honked my horn and scared you! I'm sorry you have to ride a bike for your crummy paying job. I'm sorry the city supports this mega-casino but can't seem to light this busy street alongside it for safety. I'm so sorry for everything"...but apparently we're limited in how much we can communicate as we pass in the night....
4 comments:
i like that last line about apparently being limited in what we can communicate as we pass in the night. good line, Deb.
i enjoyed this entry. makes a person think, y'know?
I was listening to this comidian once and his comment was about living in a big city. He asked the crowd if he was the only one familiar with "right turn on red" he's like "I always seem to get stuck behind the guy just sitting there at a red light. As I beep my horn and swear there on the other side of this mans car emerges the little old woman trying to cross the street with a cane. Then you feel like an idiot for honking. Deb thanks for being the car that doesn't turn right on red so-to-speak.
hopefully when he arrived home safe and sound, he was surrounded by the love of family, with a hot meal on the table from the money he saved by not using the car.
Thanks for the "lesson". We all need to take care of each other! Does not seem to be enough of that going on.
This man is a metaphor for the American financial crisis...good for you, Mom. You just did more for him than his public servants could right now. Even if that is just keeping him safe for a little while.
VOTE DEBBIE!!
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