Slow Down and Think of Others

The reference in this song to an old man driving on the interstate reminds me of driving in Minneapolis, by myself.

The old man in the song was driving on the interstate slowing down traffic, making everybody wait. Everybody was staring, not knowing what he was going through. Someone honked from the passing lane and yelled, I ain't got all day. The old man says forgive me, its been a long life, my wife's passed away and my kids don't have the time. I've been left all alone and its getting hard to drive-so forgive me children-they dont understand.

I traveled from the northwest corner of South Dakota to Minneapolis by myself when my husband was flown from another hospital to Minneapolis with complications of cancer. One morning, as I was heading to the hospital for the day, I was trying to watch for my turn-off, and had slowed down. One particular car, I remember, passed me in the next lane, and as he did so, he accelerated loudly to let me know how disgusted he was with me. I'm thinking, you know, I'm driving in this big city, by myself, with out-of-state license plates, shouldn't that give him some clue that I am having a difficult time in all this traffic!? In the small town I'm traveling from, our Main Street is maybe 10 blocks long, with maybe 2 cars traveling on it at the same time. I'm sure, along with the traffic, that my mind was also on what was going on with my husbands situation. Also, that I had gotten lost twice, so was VERY careful to follow my beaten path, and not stray from it.

As the song says, everybody's busy with their own situation, everybody's lost in their own little world. Maybe we should stop and take a little time, cause we really don't know what our neighbor's going through.

As I continue to the hospital, I'm thinking, I should write a letter to the editor of the newspaper expressing what just occurred, and asking people to think about what other people MIGHT be going through in life, before they make their rude gestures. Are they alone, or, as in my situation, dealing with an already full plate. Maybe take the time to stop and ask if that person could use some help! What did that other driver accomplish? How late could I have made him, or was he already late on his own accord, and it made him feel better to blame someone besides himself!? Maybe I saved him from a speeding ticket!?

Actually, I heard a statement, just today, "how good it makes you feel to make someone smile"--doesn't it!

Take time for others, as you just don't know what theyre going through. You never know when you might be in the same situation, and think how good that will make YOU feel!