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I was crossing the street this morning, in the crosswalk and with the light and some asshole turned the corner and nearly knocked me back. I was livid, cursing as I got the other side and was going to go sit on the bench near the bus stop to wait on the 57 bus, but then I noticed that he'd slowed down and was turning into a space. Oh yes, that was my chance! I was so angry I was shaking and angry enough to trot as quickly as I could (remember, I was using a cane just weeks ago) to confront him, finger pointing in his direction.
"Hey you!" I screamed, in my best harpy tone.
A middle aged man, blue tooth stuck in his ear, stops and turns, smiling. "Yes?"
"You almost ran me down," I seethed, vocal cords straining with the effort.
"I didn't see anyone, there was no one there," he protests, eyes wide with righteous innocence, and edging his way toward the Italian grocery store so he could get his morning espresso drink.
"I was there," I spat, "and you shouldn't be talking on the phone while you're driving."
Now he's starting to get really defensive. "I haven't been on the phone for an hour and a half."
"I don't care!" I yelled, about to pop a vein because he just doesn't get it.
"Well, maybe you should learn to watch out for cars," he huffed.
At this point I think the entire world tinted red. "I was in the crosswalk, I had the light, you god damn stupid son of a bitch!" And then I turned away, because I figured I'd made my point and everyone in that coffee shop/grocery store was staring at us. I stomped off and you know what?
I felt really good.
For years I've dodged the automobile bullet (being hit twice as a child tends to make a girl cautious) and I've yelled at plenty of motorists. But this was the first time I could confront one of them and all that pent up rage just burst out in a cathartic screaming fit on my neighborhood sidewalk. I felt free and everyone I've told the story to has smiled, because they've also had similair experiences. One of them was even hit so badly he nearly died. So, yeah, screaming at that doofus was a victory for all of us. Or that's how I see it. *g*
Go pedestrian power! *fist pump*
"Hey you!" I screamed, in my best harpy tone.
A middle aged man, blue tooth stuck in his ear, stops and turns, smiling. "Yes?"
"You almost ran me down," I seethed, vocal cords straining with the effort.
"I didn't see anyone, there was no one there," he protests, eyes wide with righteous innocence, and edging his way toward the Italian grocery store so he could get his morning espresso drink.
"I was there," I spat, "and you shouldn't be talking on the phone while you're driving."
Now he's starting to get really defensive. "I haven't been on the phone for an hour and a half."
"I don't care!" I yelled, about to pop a vein because he just doesn't get it.
"Well, maybe you should learn to watch out for cars," he huffed.
At this point I think the entire world tinted red. "I was in the crosswalk, I had the light, you god damn stupid son of a bitch!" And then I turned away, because I figured I'd made my point and everyone in that coffee shop/grocery store was staring at us. I stomped off and you know what?
I felt really good.
For years I've dodged the automobile bullet (being hit twice as a child tends to make a girl cautious) and I've yelled at plenty of motorists. But this was the first time I could confront one of them and all that pent up rage just burst out in a cathartic screaming fit on my neighborhood sidewalk. I felt free and everyone I've told the story to has smiled, because they've also had similair experiences. One of them was even hit so badly he nearly died. So, yeah, screaming at that doofus was a victory for all of us. Or that's how I see it. *g*
Go pedestrian power! *fist pump*
