2010 is almost over. It’s ending on somewhat of a high note for me because I got a B-Plus on my essay (see last week). I like B grades: they can actually mean a lot more than an A. Sometimes an A means you didn’t need to take the course because you already knew what it was about, or you went as far as the instructor could take you, or it was just an easy challenge to tackle. People cheat for an A and get it, and folks who sacrifice their health by not sleeping and cramming for exams over vats of coffee and energy drinks earn the A but spend a lot of time in poor condition as an added physiological interest payment more expensive than any student loan. A grade of B can mean that you learned a lot and can learn some more. I’m happy with that, especially at my age and considering the schedule I keep to go to college in the first place.
I shared the road with two drivers from Florida this past week. After the toll plaza on the bridge I take to work, the merge lanes are so cramped, there is bound to be some jockeying for position. In this case, the driver was well behind me because I got out of the toll lane first, but (s)he sped up and cut me off. I sure hope they got to that fire. The second Florida driver was in the right lane and realized that they had to be in the left to make the correct exit. I never mind giving way when somebody has to change lanes, but this driver–not knowing he was making up for the other guy from his sunny state–slowed down to merge behind me while there was traffic coming. I waved my hand in wild horizontal sweeps (the universal symbol for “come on into the lane”) but the car didn’t get in until the last minute. Given a choice between the two, I’ll take the second one. Mergers who hesitate tend to live longer than the faster, jerkier ones.
On Thursday we had a surprise snow shower that dumped about an inch on our area. Somehow the traffic grew threefold during that time, and all of them seemed to have had a simultaneous attack of brain damage, because the accidents and delays were horrendous for such a small weather event. After weeks of unrelenting blizzards earlier in the year, one inch of snow shouldn’t faze anybody from the Northeast. A drive that normally takes me one hour took two, and then I had to leave the main interstate and take a side road because the overhead signs warned of 90-minute delays into my usual exit. I didn’t want to get home at 8:00 or later, but the exit I used made me rather nervous with its traffic circle and lots of–you guessed it–merging traffic. I was certain I would at least ding a fender, but nothing happened and I did finally get home.
The next week will consist of last-minute preparations for the holidays and the end of the year. Some folks feel it won’t come fast enough. I just hope that 2011, even though it’s an odd year, won’t be. . . .well, an odd year like 2010 was. At least folks might resolve to learn how to merge in traffic.
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