I keep hearing a muffled beep behind me on the empty road, but it is raining hard and l have my hood up, walking carefully in the bike lane because the construction on the sidewalk ahead has blocked it and I dont want to trudge through mud puddles when I can stay in the bike lane for a mere ten yards and then jump over the muck back onto the sidewalk after the construction. The road was wide and empty. Ive already slipped and almost fallen twice on the slippery sidewalk, my glasses are fogged and my hood is blocking all of my peripheral vision as I concentrate carefully on where I am placing my next step while making sure to stay in the bike lane and as close to the curb as possible, so the beeping doesnt really register at first. Again, the road is wide and empty. From the corner of my hood, I see the front of a car stopped next to me, several feet away and traveling the same direction as I am in the center of the (yet once again) wide, empty road. I see a hand pointing an accusing finger at the sidewalk ahead of me from over the steering wheel. The beeping has increased into a steady bray. I get into a certain serene mental place on my walks. I love the way I get into a rhythm and how my mind eventually drops in a soft neutral, most of me focused on the simple act of walking while some lower level of my mind deals with my worries. I love the distraction. Its peaceful. Which is why the car next to me on the (say it with me) wide, empty road honking and pointing at me was completely mystifying at first. I bent down to the open passenger window, further confused by why it was open in the rain. I pulled down my hood, peered into the car at the elderly lady, who was still pointing, her mouth wide open and silent with an oddly familiar expression and I asked, friendly and genuinely curious : Were you trying to tell me where to walk? I was about to point out the construction when she screamed Ahhhhhh! and drove away. At first, I couldnt figure out what in the HELL had just happened. I was walking along, in a little reverie ....when suddenly people were honking and pointing at me in the rain, clearly agitated by something, before screaming and driving away. Very incongruous. Seriously, there were a few seconds of What just happened? Is there a camera somewhere? as a result of such Sudden Weirdness. Then I realized how all of me, leaning down to peer into the waist-high economy sedan of Little Old Ladies Beeping Car, must have appeared to someone all set to yell at a jackass walking on the side of the (what kind was it again?) road in the rain... And I then I recognized the look on her face. Id seen it before. The I did NOT expect you to be so large look. And I could not HELP but burst out laughing. I guess we BOTH got a surprise on that one. Little old mean lady or big scary gangster, I hate bullies...
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 20:26:36 +0000
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