Big Hurry To Go Nowhere

Today I did something awful. At least you would think that it was awful by the trouble it caused. I pulled carefully into the traffic.

Yes, I saw the approaching car, but it was far enough away for me to safely merge. But the driver of that car was mightily offended. He put on the gas to cut me off and was suddenly on my bumper.

This guy literally rode my bumper as if to punish me or make me go faster. I was going the speed limit, and the traffic signal at the end of the street was red.

This tailgater scared me when he suddenly pulled out over the double line--faster than I have ever seen anyone pull out--to pass me. But just as quickly, he pulled back in to avoid an oncoming car.

I'm sure the guy was angry since we both had to stop for the light. He probably thought that if I hadn't been there, he could have made it through the light and been about his obviously urgent business. But that's just not that case. I had to stop for the same reason he would have had to stop: the car in front of me was stopped for the same light.

Proceeding to my destination, this fella stayed right on top me. I could not appease him. As I pulled into the grocery parking lot, I wondered what he would do. Lo and behold, he followed me! To make up for lost time, however, he sped past me in the wrong lane--right there in the parking lot!

He managed to park a few seconds before I did. On the other hand, I parked closer to the store. I walked in v-e-r-y slowly, but he hung back.

I dawdled among the shopping carts so I could see this man-in-a-hurry. He suddenly burst in and rushed through the doors. He saw me, but he did not want to visit. Desperate to make up for lost time, he approached the food bar as I crossed the threshold. I figure he got to the food bar at, umm, precisely the same second that he would have had his vehicle been in front of mine.

He ordered food. I opted for the salad bar, which took a little longer because I served myself. He sat down to eat about three minutes before I did. What, I asked myself, was the big rush here? Was the guy literally starving?

I sat nearby, but the fella never acknowledged me. He had seen me by the carts, but would not give eye contact. I began shopping and could see that he, ravenous man that he was, still lingered over his lunch. When I went to my car, his was gone.

I have replayed this scenario in my mind and have come to an important conclusion. If one speeds down a city street that ends in a red light, one saves zilch.

I might add one thought to this account that I received from a regular reader. "Zilch" is probably a good measure of the maturity of those who would endanger others in such a reckless fashion.

Copyright 2000 James McAlister

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