Only the lucky grow old.
Time is short but I want to share at least one observation concerning the recent spate of pedestrian deaths in the city.
Every workday morning at the intersection where I catch either the bus or the streetcar to work I witness an accident waiting to happen. A quite elderly woman crosses Sherbourne Street in her walker. She waits for the green light and commences to cross. She looks about 80 years old and moves slower than a snail’s pace. It is obvious she’s none too steady even with her walker and in her rush to cross the less than 75 foot intersection often requires two pauses to catch her breath. It usually takes her three full traffic light signals to make it safely to the other side.
Every morning drivers grow cross and impatient with her pace. Traffic weaves dangerously fast around her with drivers impatiently honk their car horns at her. Some bring their cars to screeching halts just short of hitting her and make her stumble with fright. Some roll down their windows and curse and swear at her. What they expect her to do I am really ever sure. I have taken to shouting back at those in their cars who curse. Yes, I am now numbered among those crazy screaming middle aged harpies who rage on the city streets. I wish I could report the TTC bus drivers are better people than others but it just isn’t so.
Why does she do it every morning? She needs to get to her church for breakfast. For all I know the Meals-on-Wheels people could deliver one hot meal to her later on in the day but is she to forgo eating till the lunch or dinner run? And because she is old and frail; must she forgo the company the communal breakfast provides? And trust me on this, but the crowd at church is far more electric and entertaining than can usually be found on Breakfast Television. Sure, she would probably be better off in old-aged home where the walk to a communal breakfast wouldn’t be quite so hazardous to her health and life, but in case no one noticed – there are waiting, and then there are waiting lists. And maybe, just maybe, she doesn’t want to leave her home. She’s old. Learn to be patient and remember – karma is a bitch.
