Tag Archives: traffic

getting ahead.

Standard

when approaching a yellow light

i generally slow down and stop

but during those situations when it’s unsafe to stop

it’s safer to speed up and drive through

i recently noticed

that when accelerating under the light

i lean into it, with my head forward

i’m not exactly sure how or why i started doing this

it’s as if i was crossing a finish line in an very important race

and i just needed that extra few inches.

is it just me?

am i drafting the wind?

is it making my car accelerate faster?

 is it my defense when i get pulled over?

“officer, my head was over the line when the light changed, you can check your dashcam to confirm.”

“people love to see you get ahead –
so long as you don’t get further ahead than they are.”
-carol plum-ucci

 

 

image credits: department of motor vehicles, sports illustrated – tokyo olympics

just stop.

Standard

for those who may be unsure

i’m going to just go ahead and say it:

a stop sign in not meant to be a suggestion. 

(good thing there’s a backup here for a second chance to get it right)

‘if you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.”

-orson welles

get in line.

Standard

safe travels.

“if all the cars in the united states were placed end to end,

it would probably be labor day weekend.”

-doug larson

 

 

image credit: national toy museum (record for world’s longest line of toy cars)

middle of the road.

Standard

 

road plan haiku

this plan gives me pause

some things better on paper

may not go as planned.

 

 

“the middle of the road is where the white line is – and that’s the worst place to drive.”

-robert frost

defendant.

Standard

after making the decision

to challenge my traffic ticket

(I’m innocent, for the record)

my scheduled hearing

has been adjourned twice.

 in today’s mail

I received the new date

for my next potential hearing.

I had to laugh

when I picked up the new envelope

(for the third time now)

and it once again clearly read:

Defendant

just above my name

with the court address In the return corner

 I have to wonder

just what major crime

my mr. rogers sweet and friendly mailman

 thinks I may have committed?

‘we find the defendants incredibly guilty.’

– mel brooks

press on.

Standard

commuting 

to and from school each day

is always a bit of an adventure/misadventure

depending upon one’s perspective.

it’s not unusual for me

to get a hands-free text or call

from one of my teaching partners 

in response to something going on in the road ahead:

 an animal crossing, tire blowout, accident, truck spill, something on fire,

weather delays, political motorcade, funeral procession,

waving mascots, emergency vehicles, pop-up detours, construction,

or that old standby:

unusually heavy traffic due to the no-reason reason.

at this point

i turn up my music or book.

 whoever happens to arrive first

will let our office know that the other

may be on time,

or

10  minutes late,

or

will arrive at a yet to be determined time before school lets out for the day.

fortunately we work with a very understanding administration.

the only thing i’ve learned to expect

is that 

  with each curve of the road

there is the very real possibility of a new surprise. 

“all you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.”

– earl nightingale

 

 

 

 

image credit: tokyoweekender

what to do?

Standard

12249583_10105911169231293_7402280131698357169_n

if you are the kind of person who is waiting for the ‘right’ thing to happen,

you might wait for a long time.

It’s like waiting for all the traffic lights to be green for five miles before starting the trip.

– robert kiyosaki

image credit: heidi badass fisher

life is too short for traffic. ~dan bellack

Standard

IMG_3886

there is something wrong with this.

it’s like starting out your journey

by surrendering to the inevitable traffic jam,

knowing you’ll be frustrated and angry.

what about making

a tiny carry-out espresso cup

instead

that reads:

“just a quick shot to enjoy

as we’re sure you will

soon be arriving

at your destination?” 

i could really go for that.