A Half Century of Perspective

It's been far too long, I know, and now here are two posts within a week.  Shocking, n'est-ce pas?  I doubt that many of you are left out there, ready with your quick quip or snarky response.  I must admit that of late, my love affair with the repartee has been lacking.  I can't seem to grasp a thought long enough to commit it to the printed word.

I've abandoned my songwriting, my novel, and even my journals.  I am drifting like a sailboat without sails or guidance.

That's not to say that I'm going through a depression or a mid-life crisis.  Indeed, I am enjoying unprecedented contentment in my domestic life.  Post-surgery (to remove my "lady universe"), however, has left me bereft of much of the emotional gamut.  I tend to drift from "okay" to bouts of "blah."  My visits to the land of bland are short-lived, thankfully.  Early evenings, I can be found sitting under a ceiling fan, wearing a t-shirt and shorts while the family is huddled under blankets.  Ahhhh......the joys of menopause......

I share with you today some observations I have made from my 50-year-old perspective, ones made in the one area where I experience my greatest joys:  the parking lot and driving zones of the local grade school.  I suppose my snark comes from incredulity; I've noticed that lately people around me have been exhibiting a clear lack of common sense.  As an 11-year veteran of the local grade school, I've witnessed many bone-headed moves, but this year tops all.

• I dread every new school year because newcomers don't know how to navigate the parking lot and drop off zone.  Usually the newbies are assimilated within days, but this year we seem to have an abundance of Borg resistors.  These lovely folks insist on blocking the handicapped spots by pulling parallel to them to drop off their children.  They do this regardless of whether or not said parking spaces are occupied or empty.  When attempting to pull into them, I am forced to honk my horn repeatedly, and then am met with rude gestures or looks of incredulity.  As if I'M the one in the wrong.  Their children are unusually slow in their disembarking routine, too.  If I am in the parking slot and am attempting to pull out, they refuse to move to allow my movement, claiming that their child "will be here ANY SECOND."  Yeah, right......
• Some people are in such a hurry to drop off their children, while stopped in the turn lane leading into the school, they will encourage their children to jump out of the car, dodge traffic, and run through the parking lot so that they themselves can avoid the drop off zone.  They will also play bumper cars (with me!) to "encourage" me to move forward, regardless of the fact that traffic is stopped.
• Apparently the 15 mph signs indicating a school zone are only for those of us that actually have children in the car being dropped at the specified school.  All others can race through at a minimum of 15 miles OVER the speed limit.  Who knew?
• Also, apparently drivers in a hurry to make that early morning meeting at work are also exempt from stopping for the crossing guard once s/he is past their lane, regardless of the law that says a driver must stop as long as the guard is in the crosswalk with their STOP sign raised.  Who knew?
• Apparently, it is common sense to talk on one's cell phone while driving in the school parking lot and school zones surrounding the school.  Who knew?
• Apparently, it's okay to park in non-designated parking spots, tying up traffic both into and out of the school because this is the ONLY place where one's child can find his/her parent.  Who knew?
• Apparently, it's okay to stop traffic so that one can pass a note to one's own child who is walking home from school with his/her friends.  Who knew?
• Apparently, it's okay to stop traffic exiting the school to pick up one's child who has decided that she does NOT want to wait along the designated drop-off/pick-up zone and proceeds to wait for her parent by the exit.  Who knew?

And finally, apparently it's okay to disobey all of the other traffic laws and school rules, because they exist ONLY for OTHER PEOPLE'S kids.  Who knew?

Later daze...........