Blame it on my espresso. I was taking a sip when I changed lanes to enter I-294’s express lane. The hot creamy liquid seared my throat when I catapulted to an immediate stop after blasting my SUV through the orange closed barricade.
The liquid foamed a bit at my nose and my vision was blurred by my fogged designer sunglasses. The ringing in my ears was deafening. I may need an ambulance; the sound was getting louder by the minute. After my glasses unfogged, I realized the sound was the sirens of the police who came to see just why I was in the closed express lane.
“Ma’am?” the long lean Chicago policeman said as he bopped my window with his flashlight.
Anger boiled up as the shock wore off. My blonde highlights shimmered in the sun, I had on my brand new Smash Box makeup, a new nail job, a great Ann Taylor suit, and sling backs. “Don’t Ma’am me!” I said in a snippy fashion that probably wasn’t really a good idea.
But then, what had been a good idea since I got up this morning. Only the espresso.
“What were you doing Miss?” the policeman seemed it a good idea to reframe his questions to the stylish “young” woman, wife and mother that I am.
I thought a few minutes trying to gather my advertising wits about me. How would my boss state this if it was for a client that our agency was trying to win?
“Sir,” I began politely, “These are fast times. Fast food, fast buck, and I was trying to drive in the fast lane to keep up with my fast life.”
Okay, this was not a real event, not a real happening but it could have been! Living in the moment, taking the quick way out, like Miss who was on her way in her best dressed arm our took the wrong turn because she was flying too fast.
Taking a minute to slow, lay out directions, put down the espresso, and take the slower lane can lead to a lot of advantages. Taking a slower lane while making important decisions, dealing with our children’s lives, and protecting our own inner soul will allow for a quicker trip in the end. With short trips like my heroine’s above, being stopped abruptly to correct errors made on the fly slow you down along the fast lane of life
You sound really sad (in the pitiful way), mimics spoilt womans voice “my SUV”, “my fogged, ” a good idea to reframe his questions to the stylish “young” woman, wife and mother that I am” designer sunglasses”, “My blonde highlights”, “my brand new Smash Box makeup”, ” new nail job”, I could go on. I’m young but God you are one of the women I hope never to grow up to be like. Ewh.
Lola, February 16 2007