train wreck
Every day I get stuck in the same traffic at the same light at the same time. It is the last and final traffic light before I get to my house, so of course, while sitting there through 3 to 4 to sometimes 5 (!) changings of the light with little to no movement forward, time always seems to be running in reverse, making me more and more and more irritated and it begins my mental questioning my decision to live in this over-crowded, over-populated, over-SUV'd, New York Wannabe state.
Today, however, was different. It was Friday. I attended a meeting, and didn't have to go back into the library, so I was heading home early -- I was happily zip zip zipping through the streets thinking today my luck would change, and I would pass through the dreaded intersection sans-waiting.
Unbelievably, Unimaginably, the line was Longer. Like Way Longer. Like 'what the f--" longer. Crawling forward inch by inch, I finally get a glimmer as what is going on. Turns out there is a man - can I assume homeless? I think I can, but I'm not 100 percent sure, but lets just say this -- There is this obviously life-challenged man sitting on the median right at that dreaded light. The traffic light is at an intersection where 5 different sets of streets get to take turns going, so there are like many many cars and like many many people all looking at this man.
He is dresed in rags. And I don't mean this figuratively. Literally folks, the man is in rags. Rags with a hood. And he has an assortment of bags and paper-y things around him. He also has 2 black small containers set up kinda like a double-boiler, and he is cooking something right there in the median. He has about 7 straws taped end to end with black electrical tape, and he's kinda like smoking whatever is in his makeshift pot. Truly. I cant make shit like this up myself.
So ALL CARS MUST STOP is the new rule of the road. I swear. Someone used their cell phone, and called DMV, got he pres onthe line, and they had a meeting, and then they made an ammendment to the rules of the road, and then they put out a public service announcement on all the channels, and like Everyone knew. So Everyone stopped, and gawked, and witnessed the public brewing and inhaling in the median of the busy intersection.
And, of course, I looked too. I mean, its obvious, since I just relayed it with such detail. But I didn't want to look. And I didn't want others to look too. Something about it was just so awfully sad. And terrible. And people just suck, don't we? Not one person went out and helped the guy. I guess he did look kinda scary. But, he also didn't look scary at all. He was smoking, and then he'd get up and dance, and then he'd sit down and laugh, and move his arms like he was a conductor of some great musical. And everyone sat there tying up traffic, doors locked, and watched as the police finally came and led him away.
Today, however, was different. It was Friday. I attended a meeting, and didn't have to go back into the library, so I was heading home early -- I was happily zip zip zipping through the streets thinking today my luck would change, and I would pass through the dreaded intersection sans-waiting.
Unbelievably, Unimaginably, the line was Longer. Like Way Longer. Like 'what the f--" longer. Crawling forward inch by inch, I finally get a glimmer as what is going on. Turns out there is a man - can I assume homeless? I think I can, but I'm not 100 percent sure, but lets just say this -- There is this obviously life-challenged man sitting on the median right at that dreaded light. The traffic light is at an intersection where 5 different sets of streets get to take turns going, so there are like many many cars and like many many people all looking at this man.
He is dresed in rags. And I don't mean this figuratively. Literally folks, the man is in rags. Rags with a hood. And he has an assortment of bags and paper-y things around him. He also has 2 black small containers set up kinda like a double-boiler, and he is cooking something right there in the median. He has about 7 straws taped end to end with black electrical tape, and he's kinda like smoking whatever is in his makeshift pot. Truly. I cant make shit like this up myself.
So ALL CARS MUST STOP is the new rule of the road. I swear. Someone used their cell phone, and called DMV, got he pres onthe line, and they had a meeting, and then they made an ammendment to the rules of the road, and then they put out a public service announcement on all the channels, and like Everyone knew. So Everyone stopped, and gawked, and witnessed the public brewing and inhaling in the median of the busy intersection.
And, of course, I looked too. I mean, its obvious, since I just relayed it with such detail. But I didn't want to look. And I didn't want others to look too. Something about it was just so awfully sad. And terrible. And people just suck, don't we? Not one person went out and helped the guy. I guess he did look kinda scary. But, he also didn't look scary at all. He was smoking, and then he'd get up and dance, and then he'd sit down and laugh, and move his arms like he was a conductor of some great musical. And everyone sat there tying up traffic, doors locked, and watched as the police finally came and led him away.
posted by sara @ 8:49 PM
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