Another usual day

This Tuesday morning was like any other. I woke up, rushed to work, came home and slept. But something happened on this day that got me thinking. My colleague had scheduled a meeting 30 mins ahead of the normal business hours and you know how difficult it is to squeeze in 30 mins early in the day when your day is scheduled way ahead. I had made myself tentative to the meeting. The meeting however has been on the back of my mind. I woke up early and rushed out of the door forgoing the customary 'Barney hug and kiss' from my kid.

A couple blocks and a stop sign away from my home is a T junction. I take a right at this junction which becomes a commuter thoroughfare for many including me. There was a Black Lexus SUV today. I waited my turn behind the SUV. The driver side window pane was drawn down and the car appeared to be stopped. I began to get anxious while the traffic on the main path was waning and rising depending on the traffic light upstream that was located only a quarter mile away. After waiting a whole minute and half (it certainly appeared longer) I decided to overtake the car. I was surprisingly calm but anxious to go past the stopped vehicle. While I was passing the car, I saw through my car window an old lady sitting in the drivers seat. She was probably in her late sixties and appeared to be searching for something on the dashboard. Any other day I would have stopped and asked if she needed any help. Today however I did not as my mind was occupied with reaching work. The thought only came after taking a right at the intersection by which time it was already late as I had been part of the mainstream traffic and there was no turning back.

I reached the office about an hour later and was just in time for the meeting. I went through the meeting, my presence being hardly necessary, with as much interest I could muster on a really dry morning. The morning was filled with few more back to back meetings, the ones where everyone is talking. I went through the grind. Had a short break for lunch. The reminder of day was filled with calls to customers and issue resolution. Made little progress with the bigger project work while silly requests forced their way to my inbox. Before I knew the day was over. I packed and headed to my car.

I have a good 10 min walk to car from my work place. This short walk got me thinking about the day and what I had accomplished. The quick conclusion was not much. The day was just another hamster wheel. I kept thinking back to the beginning of my day. I could have spent a minute savoring the hug and kiss of my kid. I could have pulled aside and asked if the old lady needed any help. The likelihood that the old lady would ask for help was very slim - she being in a good neighborhood and driving a Lexus. If I did the right thing, I could have been just a couple minutes late to the meeting that meant nothing. Who knows, I could have gotten consecutive green lights and be early to work also. But I didn't, I was just another city dweller that had no time to help an old lady or to smell the roses.

 I reached my car and switched on the radio station for my commuter news from NPR. There was nothing to lighten my mood. About a mile away from the parking lot is the interstate that takes me home. While I was waiting for the traffic signal to turn green I changed the radio from FM to CD. The traffic light turned green and couple yards later turned left to be on the ramp to join other commuters on the interstate. The CD was playing a song by 50 cent. The song played while I joined the traffic..
Go, go, go, go

Go, go, go shawty
.............................
.............................
My flow, my show brought me the doe

That bought me all my fancy things
My crib, my cars, my pools, my jewels
.............................
.............................
I joined the traffic, about an hour later I was home. As I said it was another usual day.