Every once in awhile we all have one of those moments. I'm not sure I have any way to describe what I really mean other than to just give you an example. The lonely red light. You're driving home and it's either really late or really early, but dark regardless. You approach an intersection, the light goes red and you slow to a halt. There are no cars behind you, none approaching, and you can't see any headlights to the left or right. There are no stores or buildings at the intersection; no activity of any kind. All that's there is you, yet you have to wait there anyway. It's impossible not to start thinking at that point. You think about what has happened, what will happen, what you want, what you fear, and so on. You think about everything because when you look around, there is nothing else. You may wonder why the light doesn't turn green when there are no other cars around. I think the light knows. I think the light is on a higher level, both literally and figuratively, and knows us better than we know ourselves. It knows that if it turns green, we'll speed off, get home, and fall asleep having gained nothing from the evening. So it stays red to let us, to make us, consider something, anything, and gives us the opportunity to step outside ourselves and see everything much more clearly than we do in most situations. I think the lonely late night red light is one of my favorite moments in life. No joke. I'd sit through 2 or 3 cycles if there were no other cars around, but that would be abusing the privilege of the red light. The light knows how long you need to be there, or if you need to be there at all. Do what it tells you to do, not because it's the law, but because it is objective, because it isn't influenced by anything. Its judgement is flawless.
Enjoy your next red light.
-alex
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4 comments:
i know exactly what you mean. You really have a way of addressing all those topics that people have subconsciously thought about, without recognizing the real matter of the situation. It's just one of those moments in life when you realize that a few minutes of you time doesn't mean the end of the world. For that red light, one can realize that being in a rush isn't always necessary, and in fact, just slowing down and thinking may be just what they need. well that's pretty much what you just said... but it was so true!
-steve
Here's an Idea.. you can turn right on most reds in the USA? OK, if this situation arises, turn right... do a "Uewwie" at the next gap, back to the red which is now facing not at you anymore, and then travel in your desired direction.
Ok we have a few obvious problems and "what if's" and the chances are that the jolly old red will have now found it's way to your new road..., but hey... you tried!
Driving in the USA is sometimes so different to here in the UK. I am amazed just how long you poor people have to sit at red lights, our roundabout (circle) system saves a lot of time. Then again our little island is so clogged up with cars that one small fender bender can bring the system to it's knees LA style!
Cheers, Paul
Same thing happened to me last night, just wasn't as exciting as your red traffic light though. Drove through green feeling a bit cheated...
This is deep, dude. I like where your mind goes. Truly methodical people are few and far between.
P.S. Where have you been for the last 7 years?
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