Almost 30 years ago a coworker and friend I'll call Dwayne said, “people are funnier than anybody.” My friend was right.
It has always amused me that people apparently think they
are invisible when they get into their car.
Even when they are driving, women “adjust” and check out their makeup or
their hair as if they can’t be seen. Men
clean their ears, primp, pick their teeth and even worse. People reading a book, a map or a newspaper
have passed me on the way to work.
About ten years ago, the same woman passed me almost every morning
as I drove to work. Not that I mind
being passed by a woman, but I was driving about 65 and she was applying eye
makeup as she passed me, using the lighted mirror on the back of her sun visor. Since it was before daybreak, I would watch
as the glow of that lighted mirror would go over the distant hill in front of
me each morning.
Men and women now use their commute time to talk on their
cell phones. Don’t get me wrong, I do it
sometimes myself. Other than the time
you are dialing, I don’t think that the act of TALKING on a cell phone is any
more dangerous than talking to someone in the car with you. I have been surprised to see some pass me,
holding their cell phone with one hand and gesturing with the other. It made me wonder what kind of autopilot they
had.
Cell phones certainly are a real asset for us to keep in
touch with our family, loved ones as well as work. It has finally moved from status symbol to a useful tool and finally just about a necessity. However, I
continue to be amazed by how some folks act as they use these things. Some folks must believe that they become
inaudible as soon as they hit the “send” button. Either that or they completely lose their
sense of where they are. Once while traveling, I overheard a woman talking on her cellphone, who was walking through the
airport say, “Yes I’m here in Orlando
and I just hate this airport. It is the
absolute worst!” She was getting in line
for ice cream on concourse B at the ATLANTA
airport.
People that would look at you like you were CRAZY if you ask
them their name think nothing of exposing their name, address, phone number,
Social Security number, mothers maiden name and more while talking in public on
their cell phone. I have heard about
hysterectomies, gall bladder surgeries and divorce, all in more detail than
anyone would want to hear, while waiting for a table at Longhorn.
When you travel, it seems as though it is even worse. I have heard lawyers give advice, and
threaten while in the privacy of the gate area with 200 other people waiting
for a plane. I have overheard enough
business details in a series of cell calls that someone listening could have
absolutely wrecked some pretty good deals.
I think that parking lots are probably the most unique place
for people, though. Like on the road,
people must believe that they are invisible not only as they drive into the
parking lot, but also must believe that they remain invisible for at least 10
feet as they leave their car. Many
people, particularly heavyset ones do an inordinate amount of adjusting and
retrieving undergarments from areas of anatomy that I’d rather not discuss too
much. I can’t imagine that they would do
that if they knew that we could actually see them.
This 10-foot “invisibility buffer” obviously is only
effective when you are leaving your car.
I say this because these same people bounce up like a Superball if they
slip and fall when they are returning to their car. They may break their hip or leg, but they
jump up and look around to see if anyone actually SAW them fall. If you ask them if they are OK, they will
invariably say, “Sure, I’m fine.”
They’ll say this even if they have bones protruding and are bleeding
profusely.
Yes Dwayne, you were right 30 years ago and you are right
now, people are just funnier than anybody.
