Two words: road rage.
To mimic the words of a popular comedian, “It’s not that I agree with it
. . . (insert pause) but I understand.” Often
times, the craziness of other drivers is enough to push even the normally calm
ones over the edge, but when a sudden change in road sign factors in, chaos is
inevitable.
Becca and I were leaving the waterfront yesterday evening and
discovered that the entrance to the bridge switched. Before, it was left turn only, heading the
direction we wanted. Instead, the road
became a right turn only, heading away from our destination. Needless to say, both of us were quite
annoyed.
Amidst the frustration, a spark of contentment grew from
knowing that everyone else stuck on this ramp was feeling the same thing. Then, contentment turned into mild amusement
when the car in front of us blatantly disobeyed the road sign and turned left
anyway. Becca, being the law-abiding
driver that she is, obediently turned right and searched for a place to
appropriately double back.
As we headed the opposite direction of the bridge, my
curious eyes decided to look back and verify a sudden realization. Would other cars follow along with us, or
were people more willing to take the same action as the car in front of
us? How compliant would drivers be to
this unprecedented change in traffic?
The mild amusement turned into a chuckle as the next three
cars behind us all refused to observe the new turn sign. When we returned to the intersection after
finding a small parking lot to turn around, the light just turned red, signaling
us to brake for the cars coming from the ramp.
One by one, car after car from the ramp, turned left.
You’re a lawbreaker.
And YOU’RE a lawbreaker.
All of you... LAWBREAKERS!!!!
whoa. one car just turned right. Good driver.
Next one….
Law breaker.
Law breaker again.
Traffic light finally turned green for us, and homeward bound we went,
following lots of cars who disobeyed the sign.
At that moment, the irony of the day’s date struck me and only added to
my amusement.
Today, many drivers celebrated Independence Day. Independence,
by definition, is to be free of influence.
Free of guidance. Free from
control of another or others. I have
witnessed the true essence of the holiday as people indulged in their freedom
of choice. They chose to not obey a
sign. What a way to express the spirit
of the holiday. Happy July 4th
everyone. | 
