NO! It's wrong. Don't cut across traffic risking lives because you have to make that turn - go around the block. I understand that you know where you are going, but blinkers are not for you but for other drivers and pedestrians. Use your directionals when making a turn. Please don't run across a busy street. Just because I see you doesn't mean I can stop my car in time. Stop double parking because it is convenient, park in a spot and walk your kid the block to school. Thank God they CAN walk! And for heaven's sake, put down the phone and stop texting and chatting. Pay attention drivers AND walkers.
Monday I noticed a man taking extra shelves that didn't belong to the bookcase he was buying. He got through the checkout and was rather pleased with himself. Security caught him on the way out while checking his receipt. He laughed and shrugged it off. . . and left without the shelves. So this is why we have to feel like criminals when we exit stores and must prove that the register print-out matches the items in our cart?
Awhile back I was involved in an accident while stopped at a red light. A van didn't stop (texting?) and slammed into me, pushed me in to the SUV in front of me, and that fella into another car. Wow. Ambulance, hospital, rental car, insurance nightmare. All is A-OK. Now I am being sued by a passenger in the front car over my "complete negligence." What? The police report actually absolved me of all fault. My insurance company told me not to worry, that it was common. The driver who hit me was here illegally and had no license, so they were suing me instead. I went to the hospital with this woman. She was fine. I was in the stretcher while she rode shot gun. I should have known some thing was up when everyone knew her at the hospital where she walked in and was on a stretcher when I left.
I am not going to get started on people using the streets as their trash can, dropping litter as they go. Or those who do not recycle when it is so freaking easy these days. And respect? ll I hear a lot about it but see none of it. I think it means respect ME, cut ME a break, let ME go first, and the hell with you and anyone else. Sigh. These are just the piddling, everyday life things. Forget about corporate and political greed. As a society, we don't have a chance.
I am even more acutely aware of this in my life as the main caretaker for a special needs kid. And being his mom throws me into a whole other level of crazy! I can't imagine what life is like for "high functioning" special needs people, regardless of disability. How do they function about this madness? I feel humiliated, degraded - abused even - on a weekly basis. How must they feel every day?
Last week I got a jury duty summons. The system is set up where you can either postpone your service or serve. Neither option is possible for me. Twelve months a year, I take James to occupational therapy in the morning and then to school. After school, we have speech, two days a week and another occupational therapy session once. James' school, pediatric rehabilitation center, and his pediatrician all provided me with letters attesting to his schedule and the role I played in it. Armed with these documents and his birth certificate, I went down to the Supreme Court offices and stood in line. I saw how easily everyone was getting their deferments. I relaxed. No such luck for me. I had to answer a crap load of questions: Why wasn't he being bused? Did James have Medicaid? Why didn't I have a home health care aide? Did I really think all this therapy would help? After all this, I was asked to pick a date when I COULD serve. It took all my patience not to scream: DID YOU EVEN READ THOSE LETTERS? I simply said that I was not going to lie, that serving jury duty was currently impossible. And then she told me it was fine and that I wouldn't be called for another for two years. What? So I just had to humiliate myself for ten minutes first? I am not trying to get away with something. I have an autistic kid - who, yes, is COMPLETELY benefitting from such a rigorous schedule - who needs to be taken care of 24/7. I immediately thought of the mom I know who has to do this every year for a handicap driving permit AND she has to bring her disabled daughter along for the hours-long wait. Once again, I guess I got off easy. "Easy" is measured way differently in our world.
