Tuesday, August 17, 2010

SEE A PENNY

This morning the angle of the sun sent a glint across a penny in the street.  For once I wasn’t behind schedule on my walk to work so I picked it up.  Two blocks later I came to a crossing where traffic almost never slows down for pedestrians, since it’s a more of a curve than an intersection.  The car at my left stopped at the stop sign, then, I guess, the driver assumed traffic would stop for me and proceeded.  But the car coming around the curve didn’t stop.   That driver sounded her horn at the other car while nearly hitting it broadside.  I just waited on the side of the street until they were both gone, fingering the penny in my pocket.

The last intersection is a busy one with a pedestrian crossing signal.  Even when the light is in my favor I keep in mind that having the right of way is no guarantee I will make it across unharmed. 

 The light changed, the twenty second countdown began.  I waited on the sidewalk for a little old man and his wife in a pickup truck who turned right across my path without even glancing my way.  I made it halfway across the street when a car with a driver on her cell phone came from the other direction, turned left, and would have flattened me except I saw her coming and stopped.  She finally saw me, mouthed an “OMG!” waved with her cell and went on down the street.  My twenty seconds were almost up.  I made it safely across.  But before I stepped up on the curb I saw another penny and picked it up.  I was going to need all the luck I could get the way things were going.
 If you don't put in your two cents, how can you get change?    

9 comments:

Sarah said...

Truly terrifying! I found a threepenny bit from 1941 in the garden yesterday-do you think the luck is still in it, or has it passed its sell by date?! Hope you find lots more pennies-or stay at home where it is safer!

Linda Sue said...

What's the deal there in Idaho- is everyone Italian? Crazy! If you don't come to a complete stop for pedestrians here even if they are not in a cross walk there is a hefty ticket to pay- I know from the hole in my pocketbook...Glad you picked up the pennies, girl- stayin' alive!

TALON said...

I am so glad you were alright! We have a law here against cell phone use while driving, but some ignore it and continue to drive erratically, irresponsibly and dangerously. I'm glad you found the pennies :)

Jill said...

Just hold on to those pennies - you had me screwing up my toes just reading of your walk!!

Sarah said...

Oh how funny! I thought you must have visited the uk at some point and been to visit Dungeness! I am going to google your Dungeness now!

Kilauea Poetry said...

Wow..crazy, I could picture myself in your place! Your so right as there isn't any guarantee (my husband often reminds me of that in traffic now) it can really be scary! I enjoyed your story of the journey with the pennies though-

Krista said...

Loved your post and your two cents! Some sacrifices are worth the change! Watch out for those crazy drivers, they are everywhere!

DayPhoto said...

Find a penny pick it up...I'm so glad you had good luck the rest of the day!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

Anairam said...

I am really glad you made it across in one piece, Leenie! Ooooh, drivers on cellphones - one of my bugbears!