By Staff
What's the rush?
There always seems to be an urgency to move along, to be the first in line, to finish before the others and to have our demands met instantly.
Even when we get onto escalators or step onto moving sidewalks at airports, the urge to walk ahead is there - we need to hurry, hurry, hurry.
How many times have you been passed on the road by a hurried driver who speeds by, cuts in front of you and then at the next stoplight you're directly behind him?
What's the rush?
Drive-through windows are another example of people wanting (and waiting) to rush.
Granted, these conveniences are intended for quick service, but there are always those who are not satisfied with the "quickness," so they push as closely as possible to the bumper in front of them, hoping somehow that the line will speed up.
There was reported several years ago a story about a funeral home that took the fast track and had a drive-through window.
If mourners had enough time, they could even sign the book that extended to the driver on an automated shelf.
If time was short, they could just honk and move along!
Sitting on my front porch reminds me that not everything in life needs to be rushed.
Somehow porch sitting gives us permission to slow down and avoid the rush.
Take a little longer time with a cup of coffee (not instant coffee!) or sip a glass of wine.
Spend more time with a friend. Read an extra chapter in the book on your lap.
Back in 1969 I bought my first (and last) Mercedes Benz -a diesel.
To start the engine a starter had to be pulled and held for a few seconds while the glow plug warmed before the engine would chug to life.
I also learned with that car that I couldn't pull out in front of traffic and that I had to leave for appointments before they started because speed was not a virtue for the diesel. That car was a lesson in patience. I didn't hurry because I couldn't.
Another lesson in patience occurred just this past Christmas when my granddaughter, Larissa, with the help of Nana, bought a very nice fountain pen for me.
I seldom see fountain pens in use because they are not fast and speedy like ballpoints or roller balls are.
To prevent smudges, you have to let the ink dry - my goodness, sometimes it takes several seconds for that to happen!
The fountain pen reawakened a desire to communicate with friends by writing real notes on real cards and nice stationery!
Somehow this is much friendlier and far more elegant than the e-mail I usually use.
There's no rush to sending a note written with a fountain pen. It can't be done by clicking "send."
Rushing seldom gets us to our destination any sooner and if it does we're usually out of breath. Save your breath. Sit on the porch. Take time to let the ink dry.