Hello friends and family,
All my life I have worked to not be like my dad. Guess what . . . I’m just like my dad!
I feel the same way about pretty much everything in this story. One thing that bothers me, though . . . Could I be just as bad as the persons I’m griping about when I gripe about people who gripe?
I didn’t know about a law regarding use of left turn lanes for merging from the opposite side. I do know that it can be just as dangerous as just pulling out across all lanes. Someone using the lane for a left turn could suddenly pull in while I’m ramping up speed for merging. Several other dangerous scenarios are possible in this situation. So what can we do about it? Keep disobeying this law and try to be aware of the consequences of not being hyper-alert while attempting maneuvers like this, I guess.
I agree with dad about his dislike for grouches. My whole reason for living is to be happy. Why would I want to be angry all the time? Why would I want to complain constantly about things I have no control over? If there’s something bothering me and I can do something about it, I do something about it. If I can’t do something about it, I don’t spend my valuable time complaining or being angry over what I have no control over. It’s as simple as that . . . I want to be happy and I will do what I have to to make myself happy.
I hope you enjoy this weeks installment of “It’s a Wonderful World: A Retired Reporter Looks At Life“.
With love to all,
David T
p.s. Dad would love it if any of his stories generated discussion. Please make your comments in the “Leave A Reply” box at the end of this story.
“Nerve-Rankling Annoyances”
By Don Tschirhart
Excerpted from the unpublished book “It’s a Wonderful World II: A Retired Reporter Looks At Life“
Nerve-Rankling Annoyances
I think we all have pet peeves. You know – those annoyances that rankle your nerves and raise the hair on the back of your neck.
Most people can handle irritations without blowing their stack. Me? I’m mellow most of the time.
Then there are people who flare up at the least mistake by others. They’re the ones who never make mistakes; the angry men/women who bore others with bellyaches and complaints of “conspiracies” and everything else.
I’ve always wondered if those who annoy everyone, know they are annoying everyone. Or are they oblivious to everything outside themselves and don’t care.
Automobiles are a great source of pleasure. They are also a source of frustration and anger. Some drivers have little patience and are the subject of many road-rage newspaper stories.
Road “ragers” are spoiled children who can’t get their way as they tool along the highway. Many end up in accidents, in jail or both. I bet you’d find many road “ragers” also beat their spouses and children.
My guess is that they were spoiled brats when they were young. As grown ups they think they own the road and the world owes them special treatment.
As I write this at 9:43 p.m. I can hear the pounding beat of a bass guitar from a car parked a hundred yards away in an apartment parking lot.
That guy is demanding attention. He thinks everyone should “appreciate” the music he loves, even though it might be culturally atrocious. If it were the melodious Beethoven’s 6th Symphony, that might be different.
I enjoy and dance to most rock “˜n roll and can jitterbug with the best. But when around people I think I’d turn down the volume on hard rock, rap or singer screams.
Not this guy. He opens his car windows in winter and let’s it all out completely unconcerned that he’s disturbing his neighbors and waking up babies. He’ll get his comeuppance when he goes deaf.
I’ve seen drivers of mammoth SUVs and pickups — some elevated on special springs — pass me on icy roads spewing ice and snow in their wake and thinking their size will prevent an accident. Four-wheel drive means nothing on ice. I chuckle when invariably they end up in a ditch.
Especially intrusive in the non-automobile-peeve category are telephone calls from so-called police and fire officers associations begging for donations to help cops widows and children. Ask the nitty-gritty question about the percentage of your donation that will reach recipients and they don’t have an answer. Ask them for a written letter about their organization and you won’t hear from them again.
I don’t mind giving to charity, including cop/firemen charities, but not when most of a donation go to boiler-room operators.
Other peeves I have include the lack of directional signs on surface streets far enough in advance of a freeway to let drivers know which lane should be used to enter the freeway.
In most cases, you know which lane to be in to reach the proper entrance only when you’re on top of it. I’ve endangered myself too many times moving over in heavy traffic because I was unable to get into the proper lane.
Most people would like to obey traffic laws. One law I think is dumb and is broken repeatedly is the one making it illegal to use the center left-turn lane on roads like Van Dyke in Imlay City or M-24 in Lapeer for anything but left turns.
Drivers may not use it as a safe haven when turning left from store driveways or stop streets before merging on a crowded highway.
It’s a stupid law. It’s a safe way to make a left turn and merge out to a busy road. I confess. I break the law almost daily.
I don’t like grouches. Maybe because I’m an affable guy, who loves life and people, I don’t care for people who seem unhappy all the time. As the old song goes, they should “Pack up your troubles in an old kit bag and smile, smile, smile.”
I know. Some people are physically or mentally ill and just don’t feel up to living. But many don’t even try.
Most readers have a gripe or two. A builder friend told me people are like homes. They are built good, but not perfect.
When I get an “old kit bag” I’ll write about the good things that people do. Just like the “peeves” in this article, I won’t name names. You know who you are.
