Can’t we all just get along?
The other day, I almost witnessed a beating. Or, rather, I witnessed an “almost-beating.”
In the drive-through line at the nearby coffee shop, there is a certain method for getting through the parking lot and into the drive through. Ignorance of this path is not an excuse, and will result in harm being done to you or your car.
Since I’m a visual person, I thought I’d illustrate it for you, Family Circus style:
Now, this “approved” path is the green line. Pull in, swing around the center island, and come at it straight on. Yes, it’s farther, and I know you want to shave precious seconds off the “been without caffeine” time, but it’s not that big of a deal. And, going round the outside eliminates the chance of you cutting in front of a line of patrons who are already angry because they have to sit in line for coffee because they can’t make it at home.
Choosing the red line as a path in will result in a death, more than likely that of the offending driver. Again, ignorance is no excuse.
As I watched, a truck (black, in the above illustration) pulled in from the top of the lot, and seeing a line of cars following the green path, they decided to take the shortcut, and tried to wedge their way in front of the woman in front of me, in the brown car, who made the standard “head shaking while extending the index finger in a circular motion” signal to the driver, in an effort to get them to go around. This signal was ignored, and the truck proceeded to pull in farther, closer to the “Order Here” box. Rather than let it go, the woman in the car proceeded to scream obscenities and other choice words at the offending driver. I heard her clearly, although her windows were all rolled up, and then she laid on her horn.
While that got his attention, I think he was disturbed by the fact that there was a semi-hysterical woman turning purple and swearing at him from behind a closed window. He backed into an available parking spot and went inside to get his drink, and the woman in the brown car seemingly regained her composure. “Good for you,” I thought. Personally I would have just let him go in front of me – I’ve done that in the past and the offending driver, upon seeing that they have a line of angry patrons behind them, will attempt to make restitution, and sometimes buy my coffee. I’m not in a hurry, and there’s a chance I may get a free cup of joe, so why sweat it?
The best part? The guy came back out with his coffee, got in his car and drove away before our line ever moved.
Classic.
