The other day, out with my wife in our car, I came to a “T” intersection in our rural area and stopped. As I scanned both directions, the right was clear and to the left an SUV was approaching, quite a distance away. We turned right and drove for a bit; eventually the aforementioned vehicle came up from behind with flashing lights and beeping horn. By now my speed was approaching 50 in a 55 mph zone. Quite acceptable considering ever present deer. What to do!
The big SUV’s chrome bumper was no more than two feet away; I was unsure of its intent. Was the driver enraged that I had the gall to be in front of him on a country road? Was he trying to see the decal on my window to determine what branch of military service I had been in? Or did he need to get to a bathroom forthwith?
Given the tenor of the overall behavior of the world environment, I decided to put on my blinker, pull off onto the shoulder and let him pass unimpeded by my presence on HIS road. He pulled around us in the no-passing zone blaring his horn all the way. No, I did not give him the one-finger salute!
Not long ago, to see another person on our backcountry roads would be cause for recognition with a friendly wave of the hand. I wish I could report that this was an isolated incident, but it no longer is. The world seems on a hair trigger! I’m pretty good at not overreacting or being pulled into interactions with people with whom I know nothing about, but on occasion I, too, fail at civil discourse. My body and soul are weary. COVID, politics and politicians, limited store inventory, high prices, and bad news seemingly every day are exhausting.
I’m quieter now than ever; unable to understand the world I live in. I’m a person of logic, facts, science and sensibility. Those attributes no longer seem to be the coin of the realm. My thoughts are not in the majority because there is none in an evenly split country. To look at history and project a calm outcome to our current state does not seem realistic. What have we done? What have we unleashed? I seek answers but have found few.
Saddened by the turmoil, I wish you peace.
Jim Vanderbeck
Pittsboro