I will resist the desire to post about rampant consumerism today, especially since it would be just a bit too easy.
Instead, I am going to talk just a bit about how insane people are when it comes to the way they drive when out to enjoy(?) the aforementioned rampant consumerism.
I took the day off today, like so many other people, but instead of shopping, I went to the laundromat to give Olivia's sleeping bag a washing (no way that is going to fit in our washer!), which was overdue from her recent Brownie camping trip.
I drove towards the nearest laundromat, which is about 5 miles away, and during the drive I noticed that the traffic was rather heavy. It didn't hit me right away that I was out adventuring on the busiest shopping day of the year.
We live in Prince William County, Virginia, which happens to be the home of one of Virginia's biggest tourist attraction, Potomac Mills mall. Potomac Mills draws people from all over Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and The Carolinas, and on any given weekend can cause major traffic issues throughout the entire eastern end of the county. Today being such a special shopping day, it was only worse.
I made it to the laundromat a bit slower than I expected, and after the process of washing and drying the sleeping bag (only $5.25 all told!) I headed back home. While driving home, I encountered an SUV full of 50-something year old women... who were clearly looking for the mall (and clearly lost) nearly cause several wrecks while drifting from lane to lane in heavy traffic. I tried my best to avoid them, but I was stuck with them until they figured out that they were headed in the wrong direction (guess they missed the signs).
I then encountered no small number of drives that were having such scintillating conversations on their cellular phones, that they caused near-wrecks... one by blowing through an intersection on U.S. Route 1.
Brothers and sisters, allow me, please, to offer the following advice:
"SHUT UP, AND FRIGGIN' DRIVE!
Ahem.
Thank you, that will be all.
P.S. The weather is just great here today.
8 comments:
Oh, I don't envy you living near Potomac Mills. Though I must admit I desperately miss IKEA. I was in a very serious accident a year and a half ago because of a moron talking on her cell phone while driving. I can't understand why that ever seems like a good idea.
It kills me when I'm stuck behind someone driving 15 in a 35 mph zone because they are talking on their cell phone and don't notice they slowed way down. Drives me bonkers.
Hordes of people. Drivers on phones. People in general who don't have a clue.. yeah, all that and then some-in my corner too.
But, weather was good. :)
Cell phones. Evil, evil devices. I've recently misplaced mine and I'm not missing it. At all.
As for those who choose to cell and drive, GRRRRRRR. It's almost worse than those who are stupid enough to drink and drive.
Friday, I found myself behind someone who was on a hands-free set and even that didn't help. This woman was weaving in and out of her lane like she'd just downed a case of Smirnoff. And this was on 66 inside the Beltway, which is even scarier because it's only two lanes and it's harder to escape impending doom.
I've learned to just pull back, cool my heels, keep them ahead of me where I can see them, and go about my driving.
Talking on the cell phones, on Black Friday, on the interstate, near Potomac Mills .... that's a deadly combination!
I time my visits to Potomac Mills and surrounding areas very carefully. I will not approach with 5 miles of there between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I value my sanity.
Isn't a visit to the laundromat always a delightful cultural experience? :)
"Isn't a visit to the laundromat always a delightful cultural experience?"
I wasn't even gonna go there, Suzanne, but yes... it isn indeed an "interesting" experience.
Geesh!
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