I just took my two kids to bed. Despite them sitting on the couch with droopy eyes and yawning faces, they moaned and groaned about having to go to bed. Even though it’s a school night, they wanted to stay up late into the evening. I had to put on my daddy-face and enforce the bed-time, but I also laughed a little at myself. I remember being that age and wanting so badly to stay up late. It made me feel “big.”
To stay up after 8:00 was a big event when I was so young. Hearing the opening sequence of Monday Night Football at 9:00 was a distinct “stay up late” milestone at one point in my life. On Saturdays, being able to stay awake all the way through “Love American Style” to the scary opening credits of “Night Gallery” just after 10:00 was indeed a sleepy medal of honor. But the ultimate goal of staying up late was that magical moment when one would hear the booming voice of Ed McMahon saying those infamous words, “Heeeeere’s Johnny!” Hearing Ed’s voice made me feel big.
As I grew a little older to age 14, other interests made me feel more grown up. I was well into puberty and my focus was mostly on the opposite sex. There was no example of sexuality more popular, and accepted by the mainstream, than the hit TV show, Charlie’s Angels. I recall my brother being in college and talking about the show. Eventually, it was one of the staple shows we watched as a family…publicly for the Aaron Spelling produced action, but more subtly for the titillating action of the three actresses which entertained me and my dad. Like so many other teens in 1976, I had the famous poster of one of the actresses, Farrah Fawcett. I remember my brother wanted it as much as I, but it donned my walls. My first poster. My first crush. And Farrah made me feel grown up.
Eventually though, this poster and others accompanied me to college. The drinking age back then was 18 and the place to socialize and feel grown up at the university was at any number of local bars and dance clubs. The Disco Era had long passed a decade ago, but new dance music emitted from the DJ booth. This was also the booming age of MTV and everyone was into it. To watch MTV and go to dance clubs meant that you were part of the “in” crowd, which of course was all about feeling “big”…feeling grown up…feeling accepted. There was no greater icon of both of both MTV and dance clubs than Michael Jackson. We all danced to “Beat It” and we all owned his album, “Thriller.” The album was not just popular, but it was also damned good music (and still is). To hear Michael’s music and move to its rythym made me feel part of the crowd.
These three icons passed away this week. Ed died on Tuesday while Farrah and Michael both left us today (Thursday). Each had their difficulties and bad publicity later in life, ranging from bankruptcy to bizarre behavior, but they still remained positive symbols of their peak era. And each, ironically, served as a milestone as I grew up. In the past, each, in their unique way, made me feel more grown up. Their passing saddens me as it somewhat marks the passing of my youth. But now that I’m grown up, thinking back on these moments makes me feel young again. I suppose memories of growing up still makes me feel good and hopeful for what lays ahead for me, and my sleepy, growing kids.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Round-about Advice
We’ve all encountered them, and they seem to be growing in number. They’re popular in new housing developments and the City of Raleigh is considering adding them to Hillsborough Street. I’m talking about traffic circles, or round-abouts.
These are circular intersections into which you turn right and go in a circle until you arrive at the appropriate out-going turn. Round-abouts allow traffic to flow more smoothly than a tradition two- or four-stop intersection in that there is no intended stopping, but only yielding to the car in the traffic circle. It seems simple enough, but apparently, it’s not.
Within in the last week, I’ve driven through one round-about or another of various sizes at an average of once or twice a day. At least three times, I’ve witnessed a car stopping in the traffic circle to allow a waiting car to enter! This not only grinds the in-circle traffic to a halt, but creates anarchy as those awaiting try to enter all at once.
The NCDOT Driver’s Handbook has this to say about traffic circles:
A traffic circle is a specially designed intersection. All cars in a traffic circle travel to the right. You drive around the circle in a counter-clockwise direction until you come to the road or street where you want to turn. You leave the traffic circle by making a right turn. If there is more than one lane in the circle, be sure you are in the outside lane before you come to the place where you intend to exit the circle. Look and signal before you turn or change lanes. Never make a right turn from an inside lane. An entire traffic circle is an intersection. Vehicles already in the circle have the right-of-way.
Please note that last sentence again…that vehicles already in the circle have the right of way. That means you do not stop in the circle to let others in, they wait for you.
If we all follow the rules and common sense, round-abouts should be as simple to maneuver as operating a turn-signal. But let’s not start THAT discussion.
These are circular intersections into which you turn right and go in a circle until you arrive at the appropriate out-going turn. Round-abouts allow traffic to flow more smoothly than a tradition two- or four-stop intersection in that there is no intended stopping, but only yielding to the car in the traffic circle. It seems simple enough, but apparently, it’s not.
Within in the last week, I’ve driven through one round-about or another of various sizes at an average of once or twice a day. At least three times, I’ve witnessed a car stopping in the traffic circle to allow a waiting car to enter! This not only grinds the in-circle traffic to a halt, but creates anarchy as those awaiting try to enter all at once.
The NCDOT Driver’s Handbook has this to say about traffic circles:
A traffic circle is a specially designed intersection. All cars in a traffic circle travel to the right. You drive around the circle in a counter-clockwise direction until you come to the road or street where you want to turn. You leave the traffic circle by making a right turn. If there is more than one lane in the circle, be sure you are in the outside lane before you come to the place where you intend to exit the circle. Look and signal before you turn or change lanes. Never make a right turn from an inside lane. An entire traffic circle is an intersection. Vehicles already in the circle have the right-of-way.
Please note that last sentence again…that vehicles already in the circle have the right of way. That means you do not stop in the circle to let others in, they wait for you.
If we all follow the rules and common sense, round-abouts should be as simple to maneuver as operating a turn-signal. But let’s not start THAT discussion.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
A Considerate New Year
Usually at this time of year, most folks will share their New Year’s resolutions and set goals on how to better themselves. While I certainly have such goals for myself, I’d rather share one major resolution for others. Be more considerate.
There have been several moments in the last few days that test my faith in others. How many times have I approached an “Express Lane” at the grocery store only to see someone in line with well over the maximum limit for the lane? During the holidays, I often have had to pick up just one or two items at a time…dip for the football munchies or ginger ale for the punch. Yet most of the time, someone was in the express lane, checking out the week’s groceries. But inconsiderate actions aren’t limited to the grocery lanes.
Last night in Apex, I stopped by Food Lion and parked in a space about 50 or 60 feet from the front door. There were other spaces just as close and handicap spaces even closer. Still, as I walked towards the store, a sporty Mercedes pulled up along the curb, an area clearly marked as “No Parking,” and nearly blocked the entrance. One person sat in the passenger seat as the driver got out with the motor still idling. I surmised that the driver might have worked there or was dropping something off quickly. I spent a good 10 to 15 minutes inside shopping, walking the length of the store more than once (I’m not as familiar with the lay-out of this store). As I walked out, the Mercedes was sit idling with the passenger inside (I guess they assumed that an idling car was not a “parked” car). Apparently, the driver had entered Food Lion, not to run in quickly, but to actually shop. If the driver was handicapped, there were plenty of such spaces available. But the only handicap I could observe was the lack of patience and consideration.
In each encounter, I said nothing. During the holidays, I tend to lean to the side of tolerance and patience so as not to induce any negative feelings at this time of year. But frankly, I’m tired of it. Maybe I should simply resolve to be less tolerant and more aggressive. Not that such an attitude is a bad thing, but I would certainly hope the easier route would be simply for people to be more considerate and less selfish. Is it really that difficult?
Regardless, may your new year be full of joy, peace and considerate acts of kindness.
There have been several moments in the last few days that test my faith in others. How many times have I approached an “Express Lane” at the grocery store only to see someone in line with well over the maximum limit for the lane? During the holidays, I often have had to pick up just one or two items at a time…dip for the football munchies or ginger ale for the punch. Yet most of the time, someone was in the express lane, checking out the week’s groceries. But inconsiderate actions aren’t limited to the grocery lanes.
Last night in Apex, I stopped by Food Lion and parked in a space about 50 or 60 feet from the front door. There were other spaces just as close and handicap spaces even closer. Still, as I walked towards the store, a sporty Mercedes pulled up along the curb, an area clearly marked as “No Parking,” and nearly blocked the entrance. One person sat in the passenger seat as the driver got out with the motor still idling. I surmised that the driver might have worked there or was dropping something off quickly. I spent a good 10 to 15 minutes inside shopping, walking the length of the store more than once (I’m not as familiar with the lay-out of this store). As I walked out, the Mercedes was sit idling with the passenger inside (I guess they assumed that an idling car was not a “parked” car). Apparently, the driver had entered Food Lion, not to run in quickly, but to actually shop. If the driver was handicapped, there were plenty of such spaces available. But the only handicap I could observe was the lack of patience and consideration.
In each encounter, I said nothing. During the holidays, I tend to lean to the side of tolerance and patience so as not to induce any negative feelings at this time of year. But frankly, I’m tired of it. Maybe I should simply resolve to be less tolerant and more aggressive. Not that such an attitude is a bad thing, but I would certainly hope the easier route would be simply for people to be more considerate and less selfish. Is it really that difficult?
Regardless, may your new year be full of joy, peace and considerate acts of kindness.
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