What I mean by that is always live your life with your head on a swivel. Pay close attention to what’s going on around you. You have no idea what you might notice—like that old black man at the gym with the noticeable limp, can’t be a day under 80, but he’s there every day lifting dumbbells wearing a t-shirt that reveals a couple of very old bullet wounds on both arms. From his demeanor and the precise way he bears himself, he’s probably ex-military. I mean…thats a story that practically writes itself.
But, there’s a downside to paying close attention to your fellowman. You notice a lot of things you wished you hadn’t. Combine this with being the kind of guy who is easily annoyed? Well, let’s just say that your attentiveness can get you into trouble. Take this afternoon for example…
I’m coming back from the gym heading south on Three Chopt between Lauderdale and Pump. Even though it’s cool outside, I’ve got the windows halfway down because I was hot and sweaty from my workout. I noticed a very fancy sports car pulling up to the stop sign at Park Terrace Drive. He had his windows down too and just as he rolled to a stop I saw him lean over and throw a paper coffee cup out of the passenger window into the big bush on the corner. At this point I should emphasize the very salient point that Pam was not in the car with me. Had she been none of what follows would have happened. That’s because she is the great civilizer of my life. But I was on my own and forced to witness a real live litterbug in action. Had I not been “paying close attention” this also would never have happened.
Nevertheless, upon bearing witness to naked littering less than a mile from my house, I made a snap decision. After I had passed the intersection of Park Terrace and Three Chopt, and after noticing that Porsche-guy had pulled in behind me…I decided to stop in the middle of the road so this idiot would have to stop as well and pass me. While I was doing so, both of my arms were flailing in the air to demonstrate my righteous indignation. He stops behind me and lifts his own hands upward in the universal sigh for “What??”. As soon as the left lane cleared he pulled over and approached my car, whereupon I asked him very kindly what the hell he was doing throwing a coffee cup out of his passenger window. He looked embarrassed, looked for a moment like he was going to offer an explanation but thought better of it. Then, as the traffic started to gather behind us, I said, “Well? Go back there and pick it up!” We both sped up and by the time we reached the light at Pump, I turned right to go home and he turned left, where I sincerely hope he made his way back to the scene of his audacious crime and made it right. The whole encounter took less than a minute. Its the sort of thing that if I had taken more than ten seconds to think it through would never have happened. It could have gone quite differently, which I am 100% sure that Pam would have pointed out had she been in the car. I am also hoping that she doesn’t read this blog post because if she does I’m sure I will hear about it.
But here’s the thing. Most of the time when you witness someone doing something lazy and awful you roll your eyes and let it go. Hell, most of the time we are so self-absorbed while out in public we don’t even notice bad behavior. But then you see some rich guy driving a $100,000 automobile throw a coffee cup out his window and you say…No. Not on my watch. This isn’t the freaking interstate, this is my neighborhood!
So, just like that, by paying attention this afternoon I discovered something to write about. Sure, he could have pulled out a Glock and shot me in the face, but he didn’t. And something tells me that Porsche-guy is going to think twice before littering again.
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