That Damned Virus

I’m not going to say life is always expected to ebb and flow equally for all. However, with the arrival of Covis-19 and all its variants, it seems as if our blue planet has produced a preponderance of crazies — and it isn't stopping.

Calling quarantine a necessity only moved it further into the realm of insanity for most of us. Alone time is one thing, being locked down and outside of ‘normal’ (whatever that is) life is another. Often the sound of birds or a breeze is all I need. Then there’s opposite side of that coin when only Yo Yo Ma or Mick, Keith, Ron and Charlie at full volume soothes my feathers.

Gathering from personal experiences, I’ve decided our time in solitary has brushed off the patina of assumed good behavior from a significant amount of the population. On freeways or city streets, or your cul de dac, the use of turn signals is now quite iffy. Simply using one specifically at the last minute, does not assure you receive access to possible space in front of me. If I can wait patiently, so can you. The size of your vehicle is irrelevant, as is that of your ego, or the cost of your ride. My most frequently uttered word is a loud REALLY?

To me tardiness is a personal problem born of an over-inflated sense of self -importance. When ignoring time constraints and being perpetually late you're simply saying, you are more important than all who arrive on time. This was recently illustrated when my dead-end street emptied onto a road where one of two lanes was blocked. This was day two, and it was not news except to one woman (I reserve using the word lady as a judgement call). She was stopped by the yellow vest-wearing man who failed, as did I and others, to understand her importance. Shortly her horn expressed her anger, then she shouted “I have a doctor’s appointment,” to all sitting nearby silently waiting. Then she threw open her door to further her cause— yelling right in Mr. Vest’s face. Did she get there on time — who among us cared?

Bad behavior is the norm these days when 80 is the normal highway speed and I fear for my safety, especially if you are driving a black pickup and cutting me off.

Good behavior is not a new or foreign concept — even if your bank balance is that of a small country — the rules apply. If you need to say “do you know who I am?” perhaps you need to review those rules from pre-school when you were not as important as you think you are today. The world is probably not waiting for you.

That’s a rant, or a wrap, if you prefer.