As I hit the brakes hard, I was jolted up to a grim realization of how careless my earlier actions were. I was a tad late for work and it was due to my own mismanagement of time and was revving up the car’s accelerator to gain some. Usually, I follow my routine to a T, but not this particular morning I decided to buy time. I just have to check my e-mails, reply to topics in the forums and have to open my messenger.
When I next check the time it was panic. I have to shut down every thing and a quick yell to the kids for their instructions before they leave for school and "come quick, give me a goodbye kiss, I‘m going now." They were soon marching towards where the holler was coming from, followed closely by our little cute as a button darling puppy. I was standing there waiting and looking at them approaching with their school uniform. I concluded time really flies, where are those years gone? Then it’s three quick kisses and I was off flying.
So there in the intersection still a bit shaken but not stirred, I composed myself still clutching the steering wheel and foot hard on the brakes. I took few deep breaths and the traffic lights turned green. My conscience was talking to me. “It’s just not worth it so what if you’re late? The worst thing that could happen is you lose your job? It’s still better than ending up six feet under the ground.” I told my conscience to shut up.
Why is that when you are in a hurry everything seems to go very slow? After that near incident-inducing, revving action of mine, now my patience is being tested by the woman ahead of me. The speed limit is 70 but by golly she must be only doing 40, it was like going on a procession. “Where did she get her licence from? From a packet of cereal?” I said loudly.
I can’t overtake her straight away ‘cause it’s one lane. I have to wait for a few meters ahead before it branched to two lanes. Then I revved up a bit and honked to her. Darting a quick glance at her direction I discovered she is on the freaking mobile phone while driving. Don’t this people learn they are endangering other people’s lives? My conscience alerted me again, “you were too before” and I replied “it’s different” and told it to shut up once more.
Then it just snowballed, next I realized I have to top up my petrol; which means queuing up again, then further ahead the road works. This time I gave up looking at the time. I put up the volume listening to my favourite radio station cruising along, singing along, while the guy in yellow fluorescent clothes madly waving his arms to direct the traffic. Then he signalled me to stop in front of him, he smiled and saluted to me I smiled and waved back and Inoticed and thought he is genetically blessed and his body have beautiful muscular formations. Then he just have to bend over and talk to me in the car window “Sorry for the delay Miss, won’t be long now” Our admiration for each other was short lived when the other fluorescent clothes wearing guy on the other end signalled him to let go the taffic again. We just said “Have a good day” to each other.
When I walked in the office I was muttering my excuses for being late but my boss said not to worry. I wish my first client for the day said “not to worry” she needed the paperwork expedited. It’s the need for speed again.
I kicked my high heels when I got home that afternoon and checked my e-mails before I started cooking dinner. One was from my social networking friend and it was not a joke of the day. It was an invite to Speeddate.com. I said to myself “you gotta be kidding me” it was another speed inducing activity. Did I check it? I will tell you, but it will be another story.
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