designated at random street corners to safely cross children coming home from school, and because they are given a sign to hold up that says ‘STOP’ and a reflective vest, they feel they are now official police officers and can control and direct all traffic anyway they please, even when children are not present.
Yes, I ran across <(oh how I would have liked to!) one yesterday during a constant barrage of torrential ‘April showers’ *rolls eyes* which caused streets to look like hostile streams and/or raging rivers with mini rapids.
Anyway, I digress. This dear *cough* ancient woman totters out into the street (I will give her credit to be out in such weather) holding up her little ‘STOP’ sign. I STOP. Children, with parents who also STOP to chat in the middle of the street IN THIS DOWNPOUR to said woman, FINALLY cross. Yes! I have a doctors appointment, maybe I will make it there on time <(my thoughts.) Nope! Not a chance. The wizened woman remained in the center of the main street (on which I was ‘patiently’ grrr, waiting to proceed) directing traffic, keeping her 'STOP' sign up for me, as she directed those on the side streets to turn.
While doing so, waaaay down the block she espies another group of children with parents casually strolling with their umbrellas, children pausing to play in puddles, quite an idyllic scene IN THIS DOWNPOUR, approaching. I quelled my urge to lay on the horn and waited as calmly as I could muster as the same previous event happens, with parents stopping to chat!
Finally, FINALLY, she, still in the middle of the street, puts the damn ‘STOP’ sign down and motions me to continue. This, after a good, solid 10 minutes or more (which seemed like half an hour!)
I step on the gas, tires skidding on the wet surface a bit, and she has the gall to wave her finger in a scolding manner at me as I pass!!!!!
Apparently, give a person a stop sign, reflective vest (and I believe she had a whistle around her neck. At least she didn’t use it, as that would have finished me), and they rule the world! Or at least street corners without traffic lights. *sigh*
Did I make it to my appointment on time, you might ask? Just barely.
(He prescribed something for anxiety [and depression....yeah, you may have noticed some of my ‘poetry’] which actually would have been helpful 20 minutes previous!<TMI, IKR)
(And my apologies to Crossing Guards and the Elderly everywhere. All except that particular one! I blame it on the need for medication. Which is as good an excuse as any. Maybe I need to go watch the video I posted 'The Importance of Kindness' again and read my own comment to it *sigh*....if patience is a virtue, guess I'm not very virtuous. *deeper sigh*)