Glad to finally be home

I left work at 5:50. It is now 7:30. I just got home. The bus was running a little behind because there was a trainee driver and all sorts of cars decided to play tag with him, practically, so he was concentrating on getting us places in one piece rather than the time, which I appreciate. But then it took me five lights to cross the street, because every time the light turned green, an emergency vehicle came through the other way through the light. Four of them, total, two fire engines, an ambulance, and a police cruiser. They weren't all going to the same place; it was just one of those things where when they would have had the light there was nothing but normal traffic and when I had the light there would come another siren. Then, after finally getting across that street, I walked across the street where a service road came into the street and nearly got run over by someone turning onto the side street who wasn't paying attention, even though I was in the crosswalk. I am really beginning to hate people in cars. They talk on their cell phones and do all sorts of things other than drive. When I drive I try to look out for pedestrians (even jaywalkers and the like) because I realise I'm driving a potentially deadly weapon. Even a Mini Cooper or other compact car can kill or maim, and people drive giant SUVs like they're bumper cars. I don't get it.

Anyway, I'm ready for some peace and quiet. I'm not sure I'm even up for soft relaxing music. The bus was noisy, and some lady was going on about the evils of pesticides and the predictions of Nostradamus, and some lady screeched to high heaven when she saw someone she knew and like to have jolted me out of my seat. I'm tired of being around people. I've been around people all day. I've been nice. I've been pleasant. I've enjoyed my interactions to a point. But I got to a point where I just felt overwhelmed and wanted nothing better than to come home where the only sound is the aquarium water fall, and even then, I think I'll go into the bedroom where it's even quieter for awhile. Do you ever get that way, when the sheer noise of life around you gets to be too much? This is why I could never live in a city with millions of people. Sorry, I know this was somewhat incoherent and stream of consciousness. That's how I feel right now--full of run on thoughts, anxiety, and a need to ground myself, which I will now proceed to go do.

I very rarely swear

but I let loose quite a few expletives a few minutes ago when someone tried to run me down at a major intersection. Okay, yes, it was 10:30 pm and dark, but I had a light-coloured coat on and was waiting to cross with the light. He waited until it was time for me to cross and then started to zoom into me. Fortunately we both stopped our forward motion at the same time, and he let me pass. But I got scared, and I think I used the 'f' word in imperative, as an adjective, and also as a couple of other parts of speech.

And then, once the danger was passed and I was walking down the other side of the road, I started crying.

I know, it makes no sense. But I cry easily, especially when I'm scared and mad, and both counted this time.

I haven't had such pedestrian rage since a Cadillac tried to run over Liz and me several years ago. The string of various forms of the 'f' word came out even stronger then.

I have a motto as a pedestrian--never trust the drivers. And so I was ready to step back if needed in this case. But for those of you who are driving in your cars, please watch out for pedestrians. Most of us do obey the traffic laws, and for those that don't, well, the fact of the matter is they're going to lose in a battle with your car. So try not to squish anyone.

And please slow down and take your time. I think that may have played a factor in the crash I wrote about--I heard he was late for work and passing a car when it happened. Being late 5 minutes for work is much better than being dead. So take care when you drive, and when you walk.

Unbelievable

Passersby ignore man struck by car

HARTFORD (Connecticut) - The surveillance video is gripping: A 78-year-old man is tossed like a rag doll by a hit-and-run driver, and cars zoom by as he lies motionless on the busy city street.

Pedestrians gawk, but do nothing. One driver stops briefly, but then pulls back into traffic. A man on a scooter slowly circles the victim before zipping away.

Makes you wonder about human decency. Apparently no one even called authorities--a police cruiser happened by on another call.

PS Later they did release that four people did at least call 911. And a group did appear to flag down the policeman. Still, I saw the video today and one person is let out by a car and walks right by the man and never seems to notice him. The man is in critical condition and paralysed at last report. Here's the video. Hartford police are asking anyone with information to please contact them at the number in the video: 860-527-TIPS.