Okay.
In the past, dear readers, I’ve written about my Metro travels. But alas, due to a job change a year ago, I don’t take the Metro anymore. Instead, I drive my trusty Hyundai Elantra to and from work at Gallaudet.
Initially I decried my own descent into commuterhood but the mere 5 minute drive to work sealed the deal for me. I missed being among the hordes of DC metro-goers, shuffling to and fro. I missed being able to observe humanity from up close, coming up with scientific nomenclature to fit the bizarre behavior I witnessed, and writing about it on DeafDC.
But I soon realized that the Metro is not the only place where you can watch humans doing what they do best.
I was actually shocked by something that happened the other day. I was idling away at a stop light at a somewhat busy intersection on H Street (NE). Straight ahead of me, across the street in the oncoming lane, was another line of cars, also waiting at the intersection.
When the light turned green, like an obedient driver, I start puttering away and heading across the intersection. But that’s when things go awry. The front most driver in the oncoming lane decides that she just has to make a left turn now. Okay, no problem, except that I’m in the way. I brake hard while glancing up at my rearview mirror to make sure that the car behind me wasn’t going to rear-end me. It wasn’t.
Breathing a sigh of relief that my car’s backside would not be marred by an ugly accident, I turn my attention to the car that is currently cutting across the intersection in front of me. I raise my hands and gesticulate wildly at the car. “Come on, you idiot!”
But here’s the shocker. In the passenger seat of the car, was a young girl — she couldn’t have been more than 12 years old. She flung herself at her window, screaming, making faces at me, and flipping me off. You could just feel her malice and rudeness dripping out of that car, leaving a trail behind them as they finished cutting across the intersection.
I drove on, stunned.
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muuhahahahahahahahaahha, u got owned! but honestly that girl need to be taught a lesson.. may i suggest Super Soaker XXXI with a good dose of you-cant-wash-it-off-dyes ?
Oh that’s horrible. I’m sorry that happened.
Unfortunately the ugliness isn’t confined to just a few people. It happens more often than it should. One time when a woman cut off a friend of mine, I gesticulated just as you did. She saw me and waited for us to pass. I told my friend to wait but she couldn’t because there were cars waiting behind us. We passed. The woman in the other car threw a plastic Sprite bottle (full with the cap off) at us. My window was open. It hit me square at the side of my head leaving a nasty bruise and sprayed Sprite all over the car.
Ugh. Malice indeed.
Whoa. That’s horrible! Did you at least get their license plate number and report them to the police?
No, like Bobby, I was too stunned.
Meh. I’m glad, then, that the girl in the car was not armed with Sprite. Whew. =)
More Pew pew Less QQ .=)
Yes it’s shocking how under-disciplined today’s children can be and how much energy they are allowed.
Speak of sheer irony…
D.C is fifth on the list of the rudest driver population in the nation.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/n.....vers_N.htm
I wonder if that includes passengers? ;)
Bobby, that situation sucks, but it’s still better to be the ‘bigger person’ in that matter. But still, no one NEEDS to drive to Gallaudet. There’s a metro stop not but 6 blocks away. It’s a nice walk down M-Street especially in this nice weather.
It’s DC - save the money, go car-less!
By the way, why can’t Gally open the 7th street gate for pedestrians?
Or the Kendall Gate?
I’ve been meaning to go car-less. I probably will at some point; problem is, the drive to Gallaudet is 5 minutes for me, and it’s 40 minutes via Metro — I have to take Orange, then Red, THEN either the shuttle or walk. Not effective. I am exploring vespas or bikes.
oh bobby has a bike *wink wink*
I feel for you. After such encounters it is better to stay quiet and not confront other people at all. Never know what might happen.
In trying to get out of a shopping center in heavy traffic, I waved and finally cut into traffic without incident, but another car tried to get into the space that was opened for me. The driver, a woman, lost to me and immediately screamed and flipped me off.
I stared. It looked like a coworker, who would become my boss the next year. Appalled, I stared again at her at the next stoplight and she pretended not to notice, apparently not embarrassed. Yes, it was HER.
Nothing was said. However, every time we had meetings, I remembered that incident and how I felt. It certainly had its impact on our professional relationship. Although I no longer work there, it will in the future affect any community dealings I have with her.
It’s a small world, especially in the deaf community.
Ugh, what a sight — that would have left a terrible feeling in my stomach! I remember when a friend and I were putt-putting along in his little VW bug (the old type), and we accidentially cut off a bus with a religious organization’s name on the side. The driver hollered at us, and then all the elementary school (or maybe junior high?) aged kids on the bus stick their hands out of the windows and give us the finger, en masse. Really a horrible sight, especially considering the source!
You should’ve taken a picture of them doing that then publicized it. Now that would’ve been embarrassing to THEM!