A Lesson Learned

Let me set the stage for today’s blog. It is, after all, about me.

I left work at 5:00, something I rarely do. As I start my day at 6:30, I try to get out by 4:30. Some days, it is more like 5:30. This day, it happened to be 5:00. I drove down the little capillary that connects my office capillary to the larger artery of 19th Avenue. Two blocks. The backup at the signal was all of ½ a block long. I sat through two lights, and each light allowed 3 or 4 cars through. It was going to take at least 4 more lights to get through. AGH!

I decided to turn right instead of left at the light ahead. This allowed me to drive right up to the light, as everyone else was turning left to drive to the freeway. I could turn right, and catch an intersecting freeway and at least be moving!

At the light, I assessed the oncoming traffic. Speed limit, 45 mph. 3 lanes of oncoming traffic. Motorcycle in left lane, motorcycle in right lane. Center lane clear. Plenty of room to turn right into the center lane before the cyclists caught up to me. Go for it!

I turned right into the center lane. The motorcycle in the right lane, seeing me turn and not realizing I was headed for the center lane, moved to the center lane himself. Still no danger of causing an accident, but now the cyclist had to either ease up on the throttle or change lanes again. Although I didn’t see him do it, he apparently changed lanes again into the left lane. The other cyclist, the one already in the left lane, slowed down to accommodate him.

As the cyclist passed me, he revved his ample motor to make sure I knew he was displeased with me, then he cut in front of me dangerously close and roared off down the street.

Okay, the stage is set. What I really want to talk about is my thoughts, reactions, and decisions during and after this episode.

Frustration. 50 or so of my fellow laborers (slight exajuration) all left work at the 5:00 bell. I was at the back of the pack.
Pride. I was too full of myself to think I should have to wait in the back of this pack of humanity for my turn to get through the signal.
More pride. I was brilliant! I thought of a way around the masses to serve my own purposes.
Embarrassment. I was embarrassed that I had not thought the motorcyclist would misinterpret my actions.
Anger. Who does this guy think he is, trying to put me in my place by pointing out the fact that I had inconvenienced him.

As I drove down the street rolling these thoughts over and over in my mind, trying to decide if I had been wrong or not, the obvious became clear. Without my action of turning right in what could easily be considered an unwise manner, I began a chain of events that, 3 or 4 years ago might have escalated to a very unpleasant end. 3 or 4 years ago, I might have decided to show that arrogant cyclist that he was messing with the wrong guy.

Don’t misunderstand me; I’m not a big, tough, macho man. But I was driving a truck! No motorcycle would be my match! I would have been very angry! I would have been very wrong. I could have done something very stupid.

I began to realize that my actions began this series of events. I felt convicted of my own foolishness. I realized I needed to be more caring for others on the road, and not so much be all about me.

By this time I reached the freeway onramp. The line was ½ a block long, and the signal was only letting 3 or 4 cars through at a time.