What Part of….

This post was originally written in October 2011. I felt it was appropriate however, since my internet at work is not working correctly and I am having to learn patience.  Enjoy my readers!

It is a stunning day in Northern New England today!  The trees have turned color; the sky is a perfect shade of blue with just enough gray clouds to remind you it is autumn.  The temperature is perfect for me and there is a brisk wind.  I took a ride today to see friends and do some grocery shopping in “the slightly bigger city.”  It was on the way home this blog took shape!  After leaving my friends I went to a shopping center; the traffic, as expected was heavier, no biggy, except for the driver’s who sit at green lights, drive slow on the highway and fast in a crowded parking lot!  I recognize I am impatient while driving, but really sitting at a stoplight that is green, in heavy traffic…. I find myself yelling “What part of green light means go, don’t you understand?”

This thought per usual flourished into something larger and caused me to think about the other things that cause me to ask, “What part of…don’t you understand?”  I have to be introspective at times like these and question my own feelings, am I justified or simply impatient and in the wrong?  I try to understand and quickly respond when someone says they need to go or need to hang up from a phone call; I try to keep my texts short and sweet when I know someone is busy.  I believe we all know those people who continue to converse long beyond a less than subtle cue.  I love (sarcasm implied here) when someone comes to your office for what appears to be a quick question only to have it turn into a half hour conversation, again I ask “what part of only having a quick minute don’t you understand?”  Don’t you see that I am busy or I am ready to leave, I am giving the cue of standing up, holding papers in my hand, turning around to my computer…etc?

The slow down on my side of the highway today was due to someone gawking at the back up on the opposite side of the road.  The back up was caused by a group of people crossing over a guardrail onto a divided highway that had oncoming traffic moving at 65 mph.  I just had to ask “what part of NO PEDESTRIANS on the highway, did these people not understand?”  And secondly “what part of keeping your speed up so you don’t get plowed by the person behind you” did the person who slowed down not understand?  My mother told me about someone she was following who kept stopping beneath signs that clearly stated “NO STOPPING” and waiting for her.  Now it was very nice that the person was conscientious and caring about waiting to be certain my mother was following, but her point was the person, without fail, stopped 2-3 times beneath similar signs!  Not a distance before or a distance after, NO right beneath the sign!

I realize there are areas in my life in which the question “What part of … don’t you understand” applies.  Habits and opinions I hold, which lead to the same place they always have.  I frequently look at my self in the mirror and say “Eldridge, what part of… aren’t you understanding?”  As usual, this blog, which starts as a rant at the world, ends up cutting into my grain.  The question on my mind now is “Eldridge, what part of don’t be stupid, show mercy and value others don’t you understand?”  I’m not saying that I won’t ever ask the question again, but I’m hopeful that when I ask the question it is with a little less frustration and a little more compassion toward others.  AHHH, patience at human failings is a hard fought battle, but one worth fighting for we all fail and come up short.  Who knows the reason you were placed where you were placed at any given time.