I worked hard for every little bit I got

Ever since the 35 bridge collapsed, they've had traffic cops at every light in NE, holding our hands through the stress-inducing, rage road causing, annoying traffic. Monday they were not there. And you know what? We all made it on our own. Sure, there was traffic, but no more than usual. I actually think that it was faster. Maybe because I left my house at the insanely early time of 7:30, instead of 8, but it went ok.

And I thought, maybe, just maybe, we've gotten to the point where they can let us go. Let go of our hand and let us walk, or as the case may be, drive, on our own. But then this morning, they were back. In their bright yellow, with their whistles, hats and light sabers; waving us through red lights, stopping us at green lights and whistling severely at those who do not listen. They had yesterday off because of Columbus Day, I guess.

That begs the question, when will it end? Will we wake up, drive to work one day to find that traffic laws actually apply? Or, will they keep guiding us through what is sure to be at least the next two years of construction (if they ever actually come up with the cash and a plan) until the bridge is complete? And on a grander scale, when do we know when the appropriate time to walk away is? When do you say, I've had enough hand holding and simply let go?

But before I wax too philosophical, I need to vent. Even before the afore mentioned bridge collapsed, surely, the most detested words in all of Minnesota were, "Road Work Ahead." And now, with no other ways to go, those road signs nearly cause me to have a stroke. They have been repaving a road that is a fairly major road near my house and thus detouring traffic onto our 30 mph residential road. And now, they're finished with that, but they are working on the intersection of the two major roads also near my house. Any guesses as to where traffic is being detoured? You got it - our road. So you see, people that don't normally drive that road want to go 50 and I want to piss them off, so I go exactly the speed limit. Which is not something I'm really known for doing. Because there are often cops on the road, just waiting. And I don't know about those idiots, but I don't really need another speeding ticket.

So yes. Roads lead us to where we need to be, but what do we do when the roads aren't accessible? Or passable? I want to be the guy whizzing by all of cars, cars that stack up behind one another like rows of ladybugs in the afternoon sun. The guy who rides his scooter to work and gets to laugh at all of us suckers in our cars.

Maybe I should learn to take the bus.

Quote o' the day:

"Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic." - Dan Rather (American TV newscaster, b.1931)