Well, since you asked....
I live in the MOST self-absorbed city in the entire world. Folks here simply do not think or care about, let alone acknowledge any other human being.
I was pushing Alyson in her stroller as Becky walked alongside. We were walked up the side street where I live, to the sidewalk leading to the school. We had tremendous rainfall last night, so there was a huge puddle on the right side.
It was a tricky walk, since we had to stay to the left, which put us in danger of cars whipping around the corner making a right onto the sidestreet - but the puddle on the left was too deep to walk through.
Note: There is no sidewalk on the sidestreet.
So, as we're walking on the left to get around the puddle, cars keep coming by to our right full speed and the puddle becomes a tsunami.
I waited until cars had passed and other cars had come around the corner - about 5 minutes of this - and decided that we had to make a break for it.
As soon as we approached the puddle, here comes some idiot lady full speed. I knew she wouldn't slow down and that Becky, Aly and I were about to be drenched with nasty mud water. So I did what any normal person would do.
I screamed "STOOOOOOOPPPPPPP!!!" at the top of my lungs. :-D
She braked hard and looked at me. I pointed to the puddle and then to my kids.
Understanding dawned on her and she said sorry. I mumbled something about knowing she was sorry, but that's no excuse for stupidity.
We made it to the sidewalk.
From there, it was sheer hell trying to find Becky's class because the school did not mail out the class-cards (that tell kids their room number) in time, so no one knew which class their kid was supposed to report to.
So, after braving a NYSE type crowd around the roster, we finally made it to the classroom. The teacher decided to let us all stand sweating in the sun (did I mention I was dressed for work?) until she opened the door at 8:30am. She was literally the last teacher to open her door.
Doors should be open no later than 8:15am, IMHO - if class starts at 8:30am.
Becky wanted me to go inside the classroom with her and I would have loved to, except for the fact that no one would let me by with the stroller. I said "excuse me" at least 15 times to the complete disregard of the other parents.
I wanted to ram the stroller through all of them, but being that I try to be a peaceable sort whenever possible, I simply stood on my toes and called for Becky.
When she and I made eye contact, I spoke (loudly) -"Sorry, babe, but I can't get it. Some folks are too uneducated to understand 'excuse me' and I can't get through. I'll see ya later!"
She smiled and said "Don't worry, mom! What comes around, goes around."
Becky had laughed the whole way to school BTW - because she just loved that lady's expression when I screamed "STOP!".
*smile*
Footnote: They also have outlawed rolling backpacks at school because ome students used them to trip other students. So, instead of punishing the bad kids - now ALL kids have to carry these heavy backpacks - even kindergarten kids. Ridiculous!
By the time I got back home to drop Alyson back off with my mom, I was drenched with sweat, hair standing on end and feet hurting. I was so past caring, I just dropped her off, got in my car and came to work.
My co-workers took one look at me and laughed their butts off. They know me well and have seen my keychain: "GENE POLICE: You! Out of the pool!"
So they had a good idea of what I had been through. :-D
Mass hysteria, dogs living with cats! :~D
Can't believe she's already starting school!
Good grief! What a pain. Hopefully in the future everything is easier...