Normally I would not use this platform to vent, but I feel burdened and need to let off some stem. Every morning I drive for about three miles/10 minutes to work. Not a far distance to travel, right? When I first got this job, I relished in the idea of driving to work after 14 years of traveling by subway. I imagined making my commuter cup of tea, listening to the radio and not dealing with a packed subway train stalling on the tracks for 20 minutes on the one morning I really needed to be at work on time. The first few months were just as I had imagined. The short distance was the perfect brewing time for tea to be ready once I sat at my desk. I discovered new artists again with the A.M. play of Emerson College’s radio station. How could this be beat? Well, over a year later, the rose-tinted hippie glasses are off. Yes, the tea is still good and the music continues to rock, but there is an air out there that nudges away any good morning vibe, no matter your best of intentions to remain cool and collected. The other drivers. Man, they really need to cut a girl a break.
Common courtesy---gone.
Waiting your turn---no longer.
Patience---non-existent.
General acknowledgement that I and the nerdmobile exist---ya right.
Last week I was driven off of Columbia Street by a minivan. This morning I was cut off by a Public Works van coming out of a parking lot, and to add insult to injury, there wasn’t enough room for him to cross to the other side of the road, so I had to back up---here sir, cut me off then let me move out of your way by backing up into the ONE driver behind me that you couldn’t wait for so we could make the green light.
Usually, I’d be able to toss it up to an annoying moment and move on, but literally, these things happen about five times, twice a day, every single day. I know we all have our aggravations on the road. I know I’m not alone. I’ve witnessed Nils deal with it. I’ve heard my friend Ralph’s tales. I can tolerate being annoyed. But here’s what’s bothering me. I’m more than anything let down. Let down by the fact that no one treats me with the same consideration I give to all. When Nils witnessed me getting fired up while driving recently, he attempted to calm me down and told me that I’m too good of a person to turn negative because of this treatment. And that’s when it really hit home. I remembered the last time someone said something similar---my mom, about ten years ago, when the city was creeping under my skin like now, and she told me to get away before I lost my natural calm. I moved to Amherst and took a two-year-breather, all for the better.
Nowhere is perfect. There will be bad drivers everywhere. People will always try to push your buttons. A congested city offers more opportunity for a daily run in than when there are miles of undeveloped land between you and the next guy. For now, I’m going to have to thicken my skin against the daily road bullies, not take it personally, and realize that they are that way because they let it get to them and just became like the rest of the crowd.
Common courtesy---gone.
Waiting your turn---no longer.
Patience---non-existent.
General acknowledgement that I and the nerdmobile exist---ya right.
Last week I was driven off of Columbia Street by a minivan. This morning I was cut off by a Public Works van coming out of a parking lot, and to add insult to injury, there wasn’t enough room for him to cross to the other side of the road, so I had to back up---here sir, cut me off then let me move out of your way by backing up into the ONE driver behind me that you couldn’t wait for so we could make the green light.
Usually, I’d be able to toss it up to an annoying moment and move on, but literally, these things happen about five times, twice a day, every single day. I know we all have our aggravations on the road. I know I’m not alone. I’ve witnessed Nils deal with it. I’ve heard my friend Ralph’s tales. I can tolerate being annoyed. But here’s what’s bothering me. I’m more than anything let down. Let down by the fact that no one treats me with the same consideration I give to all. When Nils witnessed me getting fired up while driving recently, he attempted to calm me down and told me that I’m too good of a person to turn negative because of this treatment. And that’s when it really hit home. I remembered the last time someone said something similar---my mom, about ten years ago, when the city was creeping under my skin like now, and she told me to get away before I lost my natural calm. I moved to Amherst and took a two-year-breather, all for the better.
Nowhere is perfect. There will be bad drivers everywhere. People will always try to push your buttons. A congested city offers more opportunity for a daily run in than when there are miles of undeveloped land between you and the next guy. For now, I’m going to have to thicken my skin against the daily road bullies, not take it personally, and realize that they are that way because they let it get to them and just became like the rest of the crowd.
3 comments:
The daily commute is the part of each day that I despise most. I take the train, and there are some days when I see cars sitting in traffic, and hear horns honking and feel great relief that I don't drive to work. However, there are those other days when I am squished up next to someone who smells like he had beer for breakfast for what seems like an eternal train ride and I just feel like screaming...or tossing my cookies!
abe honks, yells, gives people the finger, thumbs up, etc. i have no idea how he got to be such an angry driver, but i'm pretty sure living in the city for 7 years has to do with it. don't get too beaten down, because in the end it won't make people drive any nicer.
Right there with ya lady, "these things happen about five times, twice a day, every single day." I've resorted to my James Taylor CD to calm me on my morning commute, which is over an hour, in traffic, from Haverhill to Somerville. I've gotten used to the drive thankfully, when I first started driving it, I felt like weeping everytime I finally got into work.
It's gets NOTICABLY worse the closer I get to the city. Courtesy seems to go out the window the minute I get onto Rte. 1 or pass I95 while on I93. I literally drive around saying, "figure it out!!" and "am I invisible!?!" JT is helping and when things get really bad I find myself praying! Gets my mind right off the road. I feel for ya lady! I have a feeling you're ride is worse than mine!!
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