For instance, today there were two back to back accidents on 285 West Bound. The five lanes of traffic stopped for quite a while and like others, I just turned my engine off, which felt peculiar on a highway surrounded by other vehicles which typically cruise at 80 miles an hour. But, parked we were, patiently. Someone ahead was having a far worse day than all of us who were waiting for wreckage to be cleared. But, here's the part that made me weepy. As we in traffic slowly merged along in our cars, emergency vehicles were responding to the scene. I mean the works. Fire trucks came first, ambulances next, and then the cop cars came in numbers. This is all very positive. Helpers. Live in Anguilla, BWI for a year and you will become immensely proud of the punctual emergency response teams that we have here in the USA. As we all scooted right and stopped our cars so that we cleared a path for the emergency vehicles, my eyes welled up with tears. I sucked them back, so no fun can be made of me. But, watching the masses perform considerate acts makes me cry. Does anyone else suffer from this?
The same goes for funerals. When oncoming traffic pulls right and stops and turns their lights on in respect of the funeral procession I just lose it. I could have made it through the entire funeral without shedding a tear, but as soon as someone shows affection or consideration out of sheer unmotivated kindness, well, I can't contain the emotions. I remember in NYC when Nick's uncle died, I mentioned that this sympathetic expression from others is common when encountering a funeral procession and I got some bewildered looks from those living over seas. "Really?" they said. I'm assuming they were impressed. Because I am. Every time.
And if any human (human that is kindhearted that is) cries on television, I'm crying. Show me a stranded Polar Bear and I'm ready to live in a hut and eat bugs to save their ice caps. If a dog is hurt, or a race horse goes down, I don't get over that shit for years. I recently wanted two decorative mantle pieces, and because that meant I was leaving the third behind, lonely and feeling abandoned, I went back and got it too. I'm such a sucker. I rescued a dying bee yesterday and put it in a comfy place to confront its last moments, so that ants wouldn't ruin it for him. And both me and my husband rescue earthworms that will face a dry concrete fate if not directly put back to earth after a rain.
Any one else with me on this? Just wondering.
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1 comment:
I find this sentiment beautiful. Once again I found myself engrossed in your word design and almost wept a smidge. I too feel completely united with the world when there is cause to move to the right or the simple flash of headlights to oncoming drivers that a radar wielding cop waits to seize your shoe shopping money ( the latter being far less noble, still a sign of camaraderie and human connection).
I feel that driving, as you mentioned, at sometimes 80 mph on these highways is a huge sign of trust. You must trust that everyone is doing their part to keep all things running smoothly and without incident. I have always felt this way about driving on the interstate. We are all on the same team, just heading to different games.
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