Militant Pedestrians

I can't remember if I've posted on this previously or not. But if I have, it bears repeating. I understand pedestrians have the right of way at all times. Truly I do. I know what it's like to wait and wait and wait on the curb while the hustle and bustle of lines of traffic backed up to kingdom come traverse in front of a person. I don't like it either. When the light finally changes, I'm almost euphoric getting to my destination. However, I know what it's like driving trying to get from point A to point B, especially in New Jersey. Especially around 4:30, 5:00 pm. I know how annoying it is for three light changes to take place before you even get to the intersection. So in light of those opposite considerations, can we take a moment here to be rational? If you step off a curb in front of someone who has waited two or three light changes to simply get to the line of traffic which waits on the other side, could you please do it with the green with you? Preferably when that nice flashing neutered person gives you the example of being able to walk at that time? The people who simply step off the curb knowing full well, you will have to jam on the brakes and sit in the middle of an intersection while they stroll, amble and converse with themselves (or perhaps it's on headphones and I just can't tell?) make me crazy. Nine times out of ten they look smug. They look like they want you to hit them so then can sue you for everything you've got and your mother besides. Why? What does this get you? I really want to understand as it makes no sense to me. The ones that really make my eyebrows jump to my hairline are the moms with strollers! Really? Are you really gonna put your precious child to the test of whether the next guys brakes work or not? You're gonna walk out boldly with your child in your probably collapsible mechanism and play chicken with the next driver? I don't understand them even more. I've seen jogging moms with strollers dart out from the curb, looking at the driver as if to say, "Hey, I have a right!" And of course, they are right, they do have the "right" to get rolled over but hey, think about the kids, okay? New Jersey drivers have enough attitude for half the East Coast, are you sure you want to challenge one with your offspring? It's just mystifying to me. Most times it's moms, occasionally dads try it, but they never look militant. Almost always they look apologetic. For them I'm willing to shrug and remember when my children were small and I needed to get home quickly. But the moms that just step out? Well, let's just say I hope in my current frame of mind, I certainly hope they're wearing lots of padding.

Exercising My Weather Options

So, I needed to make sure I got more exercise. I had read the obits recently and a guy who was a local barber died and he was my age. I have no idea whether he was more active than I was, but I was willing to bet he was. Most people are more active than I am. Even pandas seem more active, but I digress.

I drove home from work during lunch and thought, I know I'll walk back to work. Then after work I can walk home and get two bouts of activity in one day! I should be able to reward myself with some chocolate for that, or something. I ate a nutritious lunch and locked the house and car and began my walk back. It started out sunny. The weather wasn't too hot, nor too cold. I set a brisk pace and was back to work in no time. I noticed however, after getting back to work, that the sun was no longer shining as brightly. I got busy doing what I do and when it became evident that it was time to leave, I logged off the ol' computer and looked out the window. It looked dark. And it wasn't because I had stayed later. It looked like it was going to rain. Of course, the day I decided I need the exercise, it decides to rain. Well, I thought, there's no use putting it off, I better get started.

It's a curious thing about me as I age. There were things I did as a younger person that seemed fun and exhilarating. But when I contemplate doing them now, they don't seem so carefree. In fact, they sound downright unappealing. Walking in the rain was probably fun and even romantic in my younger years. But now? Not so much. I packed an umbrella in my back pack and began the relatively short walk home. It was still very cloudy and looked like the rain would begin any minute. I started walking faster. My walk home is through a residential area, full of mature trees which would keep light pattering rain off me. Of course, in my current frame of mind, all I could think was that those mature trees also beckoned lightening. Why I would think of this while trekking through the neighborhood, I have no idea, but it took root in my brain and would not leave. I began to walk faster, except I was running out of breath and I didn't want to have a heart attack on the way home. Of course, then that thought took root in my brain and as the palpitations began I decided I needed to slow down and enjoy the scenery and forget worrying so much. It did indeed begin to rain, just a few drops here and there. I opened the umbrella and looked slightly ridiculous I'm sure as the sidewalk wasn't even wet from the drops yet. I put it back in the backpack and soldiered on. It was about a block from the house I began to hear thunder. Now I have to admit that I don't usually hear thunder too much. With my hearing, the rumbling is just too low and it isn't until the storm is right on top of me that I can hear it (but really by then I'm feeling the tremors and seeing the flashes of light). So I began to pick up the pace a little more. After all, if Mother Nature decides to flick her wrist in my direction, I'm under all these trees and they would probably tumble down on top of me. By the time I reached the street I live on, I was running, umbrella tucked under my armpit, backpack slapping my back. I got home before the deluge--which didn't happen by the way. It sort of rumbled it's way off and that was the end of it. But I was safe and sound. I intend to have a large bowl of ice cream this evening to congratulate me for my new exercise regime!