My drive to work is relatively uneventful and this morning’s trip proved to be no different with the exception of one little element. Here’s the info.

To exit my neighborhood by making a left turn, people have the option of chancing being able to get across a consistently busy road or take the more reliable stop light option. The punishment for taking the safer route is that the light is longer than most. It lasts just past that point at which you ask yourself, “Is this light broken? Did I activate the sensor? Maybe I need to pull up/back up to make sure the sensor is activated.”

I, however, am familiar with the light and its delay so my days of pulling up and backing up have far passed me. I tell you that little tidbit so you’ll have the background for this morning’s events.

I pulled up to the light behind a carpet cleaning van. He was in the middle of the road. This doesn’t bother me, as I am always turning left if I’m at that light but it does tend to irritate the people who are turning right and cannot pass the driver in the center of the road.

Anyway, he became impatient with the wait, so he opted to make a right turn and he sped off. Of course, shortly after he did, the light turned green and I went on my way. So I travel down the street and at the next light, I make a right turn and continue my journey. Less than a mile down the road, I notice a van pulling up the intersection at a side street.

It was, of course, the same carpet cleaning van. I knew immediately the route he had taken to try to get around having to sit at the light. I’ve thought about taking it before. I just don’t.

I smiled a little when I passed him. Not at him, mind you. I wasn’t happy about his misfortune. I was happy that, for once it seems, patience actually paid off. I felt badly for him being stuck at that intersection, not being able to make his turn until long after I had passed. But I felt contentment knowing that it wasn’t me sitting there with my blinker on as I watched the car that had been behind me, pass me.

Does this make me a grown up?

 

Post Script: There is a little store on my way to work and every morning I have the same thought about it. I’m hoping that if I write it down, maybe it will stop crossing my mind every time I pass that darned store. I’ve never been in there. Looks okay. But the name bothers me. “Fast Stop Food Store” It messes up the cadence. It should be “Fast Stop Food Shop”. There. The rhythm is back. Right?

Post-Post Script: How can it be post script when you’re still scripting?