I had an experience that I thought I would pass it on since it could keep others from having the same problem. I guess it could be considered my “Girl Scout deed for the day” (smile)
I was driving on Stone Drive the other day and came upon a Highway Patrolman who had stopped someone for some reason and they had both pulled off to the side of the road. I was approaching in the slow (right) lane. In a situation like this I have always recognized the danger of someone walking out into my path – so I reduce my speed and am very mindful of the possibility of horror. As I got closer, the Patrolman looked up from his paperwork and saw me approaching. He began waving and motioned me with an angry look into the fast (right) lane. I did the best I could to do what he was indicating as fast as I could, but I was abreast of him when I finally had the chance to change lanes. I’ll bet anybody reading this knows what happened next!!!! I continued toward town and within minutes there were flashing lights behind me and the same Patrolman motioned that I needed to pull over. When I reached a safe place to stop, I pulled off to the shoulder. The next thing I knew, he was giving me a royal tongue lashing and told me that in a situation like that I should have gone into the farthest lane (left) as I approached the scene of a traffic stop. I told him that I didn’t know this. In all the years I’ve been driving, I never have gotten even a parking ticket, much less been pulled over on the highway......and I told him so. He seemed to have an ego problem and continued to belabor the legal and safety aspects of what he was saying. I weathered the storm of words and attitude and told him over and over that I certainly realized what he was saying, but that I had always felt that what I did in these situations was what should be done for the safety of everyone concerned. I apologized profusely and told him that I would certainly do what he was saying from then on. He let me off with a warning rather than giving me a ticket. Whewwwww! When the ordeal was over and I was released to go where I had been headed, I was tempted to sit right there until I caught my breath and then head right back home. Instead, I pulled myself together and continued on toward town. Needless to say, I was VERY aware of everyone on the road with me because I just knew that the guy with the attitude had me in his sights to catch me doing something else so that he could give me a ticket. I made it to town and was “venting” to a friend about my earlier misfortune. I told him that I was absolutely terrified as all this was happening and even though it had happened a couple of hours before I was still shook up. When I finished my tale he told me that he had had a similar experience several weeks before......... and wasn’t as lucky as I was. He got a $100 ticket!!
Other folks might already be aware of this; but, just in case, I thought I’d pass on this experience. Since then, I checked and found that it actually is a law in Tennessee. Since my situation, I have heard of many cases of folks who have had tickets for this, so I guess I am not alone in my having missed this new law.
I hope this posting will keep somebody else out of trouble!
As I was checking on our weather earlier today, I heard a valuable truth from a guest on a usually light-weight TV talk show. Today they were dealing with a serious subject. Several postings ago I related an incident that pointed out the importance of our verbal and non-verbal heart-to-heart communication at times when others are grieving the loss of someone who is very special in their lives.
After listening to the program today, I realized that this also applies to times of “grief” resulting from other kinds of losses! The person who was being interviewed had had a devastating house fire and lost most everything that was near and dear to her. She and her husband were away from home for a few days and found themselves watching their home burn to the ground on a television news broadcast. When they returned home they found that they had lost their house and all it’s contents. It was a total loss; nothing could be salvaged! I thought to myself that the gal was much more positive than I would probably have been. Although, as I think about it, we never know the strength we have until we come face-to-face with whatever hardships come our way.
As for what I wrote several weeks ago about the importance of supporting those who have had a misfortune, the person being interviewed said several times how very comforting it was to her to receive calls and notes from friends and family. She even heard from folks she didn’t know very well who expressed concern and empathy for what she was going through.
Nobody can take away the hurt caused by a misfortune, but it does help some that others understand and care enough to let us know.....in some way...... that they do!
