Photo Credit:  gmonster25

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry

Last Memorial Day weekend my husband picked me up at the airport after a great visit with extended family. Once we cleared the airport we decided to settle in and talk about the trip. We were both tired beyond measure and catching up on all the family news when there in our rear view mirror was the ever dreaded traffic cop light going off to tell us pull over. As the officer approached the truck he said, “you realize what weekend it is?” and of course my husband made our excuses and ponied up his license and registration for a 11 mile over the speed limit ticket.

Since then we have been trying to go the speed limit. And you know it is not that easy! No one goes the speed limit anymore. And we can be going down the road and there on your tail as if out of nowhere is one lone car right about a foot from our back bumper. No other cars in sight just this one lone car hugging the back bumper. And, why didn’t the person pass? And in the history of tailgating did it ever make someone speed up? And where the heck is everyone going like there is no tomorrow? And is this in fact an alien that just dropped down from space to hover closely behind you? As I was relating this to a friend of mine a young woman entered the room only to hear us discussing traffic and right away she says, “Man, people drive so slow!” We both looked at each other as I said “oops, that’s me!” as this young woman was coming to work and still trying to orient it was important to get slow drivers out of the way.

So I was musing about how each person sees driving from their point of view. We sit inside this window covered module thinking we are alone in the universe with our thoughts and cares of the day as we cruise down the road either kids in the back, troubles on our mind or radio blasting away. Many people are not leaving themselves time to get from point A to point B, thereby in a major preoccupied rush. Since I have been going the speed limit I have been passed (with various hand gestures that are not of a friendly nature, need I say more? ), I have been tailgated so many times I have lost count. Not once since May has the driver behind me slowed down to stay with the flow of traffic. This is a very interesting observation Which, I might add has led me to another thought about the rush we are in.

When did everything become in a hurry, hurry, hurry mode. I do it, you do it, heck we all do it! No use trying to point fingers about that right? Leading me to my last thought about it. How does the law protect me from those who push me to speed? The officer pulled us over and yes, it is true we were speeding according to the sign posted. However, why doesn’t the law protect people who try to be law abiding drivers from the peer pressure drivers? Well it has certainly been food for thought for me about driving. Bottom line is I can’t drive the speed limit. The other drivers around me will not allow it! Okay enough, enough of that high horse today I say! Driving is serious business. It is such a huge part in our daily lives. But this was an interesting concept. Paradigm shift on an old concern and so it will be here till we are all riding bicycles. Hey! Move over Lance Armstrong this“tour de urban” biker has arrived! Where’s my yellow jersey when I need it!

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