Monday, August 10, 2020

In An Instant

On my way to O'Hare Airport this morning, traffic was backed up in the westbound lanes of 80/94 for a "gapers' block." I'd heard this on the traffic alert, but decided to go this way as my alternate route would be to go through downtown Chicago, which had its' own traffic issues because of the looting and rioting that took place overnight. But, that is another story. 

So, back to 80/94. Sure enough, the slowdown occurred right at Kennedy like they said. It was clear the eastbound lanes were shut down because there was no traffic. As I approached Torrance Avenue, I could see the accident scene. It was horrific. It's not clear exactly what happened, but a semi tractor was involved and the driver side was smashed in and the windshield shattered. There was a large pickup off on the shoulder with pretty bad front end damage as well. Then, there were two cars in the middle of the four lanes completely destroyed. There was debris across all four lanes for at least 100 yards. And, then, I noticed in the middle of the wreckage, a body covered up lying on the roadway. The news had reported it was a double fatality. 

Even just driving by that scene for a minute....two minutes...I was shook to the core, imagining the noise, force, destruction that may have taken only 5 or 10 seconds....and then, eerie silence. I tried to imagine what could have taken place in the seconds leading up to the crash. Was someone texting, driving recklessly, having a medical issue, wanting to die that day? A split second decision may have changed the outcome...or not. Whatever happened, two people left home this morning and are not coming back. My heart grieved for the unknown family members getting that unwelcome call or knock on the door. 

Life can change in an instant and so unexpectedly. Be present in your life, pay attention, and love your family and friends like there is no tomorrow. 

As I drove on, I totally had the Boss in my head...

Wreck on the Highway 

https://g.co/kgs/7N39Co 


Friday, August 7, 2020

Hypocrisy

We can all agree that 2020 has really been one for the record books. Now, more than ever, the level of hypocrisy coming from our elected leaders to our neighbors across the street has been on prime display. 

hy·poc·ri·sy
/həˈpäkrəsē/

noun

the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.   

Quite frankly, I'm sick of it. 

If "All Lives Matter," where is your outrage when: 

  • Migrants are kept in cages at the border
  • Innocent people are put to death in our prison system
  • A court denies an appeal to end the life sentence of a man (who has already served 20 years) accused of stealing hedge trimmers
  • Peaceful protesters are brutally attacked by covert federal agents
  • Thousands of individuals are dying daily due to COVID-19 but people refuse to wear a mask
  • People are insistent that children go back to school en masse this fall
If your constitutional or civil rights are being thwarted because your local or state government issues a mask mandate, then
  • You must agree that the government has no business deciding a woman's right to choose
  • That the peaceful protesters in the streets defending Black lives should be afforded the same rights as the gun-toting protesters who storm a state capital demanding that bars and nail salons be reopened
  • You must think driving laws (speed limits, seat belt laws, drinking and driving laws) are a violation too
  • You must fully support LGBTQ rights for equality and marriage
<sigh> 

I don't know the answers, but people just need to calm the fuck down, respect one another, and do what is right for the common good. 

And for the love of God, vote this November. 

When You Selfishly Think You Had a Bad Day

I was feeling sorry for myself as I sat in the Admiral's Lounge, waiting for my flight home. It was a stressful week at work. I logged 7...