The Heartbreak of AOGS

 

Angry Old Guy/Gal Syndrome.

The other day I was walking Scout and at the intersection where we cross to take our 'long' walk, a car whizzed through without stopping. There is a large red octagon made out of metal at that corner, and it says 'STOP'. Not, slow down. Not, speed right on through. Not, gently roll through and hope you don't hit somebody. It clearly says 'STOP'. So I did the right thing and screamed "Asshole" at the guy as he disappeared down Thorndale Avenue. His windows were all down, so there is a chance he heard me. However, this being Chicago. This being the United States. There is a good chance that asshole could be driving around with anger issues and a loaded gun. Also, I know better. A couple of summers ago the guy across the street took it upon himself to scream at all the assholes who sped down our street. At one point he ran after a car and threw something at it. It didn't work. It only got him into a very dangerous argument with possibly, a very dangerous asshole. Cars still speed down our street. Just today a UPS truck flew by the house, at least ten MPH above the limit followed closely by a woman in a small gray car. I think she was trying to pass him. We live on a very narrow street.

There is an old guy around the corner on Washtenaw Avenue who once yelled at me while I was walking Scout. He told me that the tree in front of his house died because Scout peed on it. The tree was old and very tall. Probably forty feet high. I think it just got tired of listening to that old guy. Scout still pees there. I think she's leaving her condolences to the tree.

Anger is a very bad emotion. It doesn't do anybody, any good, ever. People charge into wars because they're angry. People get killed every day because somebody is angry. So much of what is bad about human life is caused by anger. I should not have let the car that ran through the stop sign rile me up. There's not a thing I could do about it. I have called the police and told them about the cars going through that stop sign. The cop on the phone at the local precinct was very respectful and promised to let the proper people know. I'm sure he hung up, took a sip of coffee, and a bite out of a donut, then answered the next call.

So I now have a new outlook on things. If I can't actually make a difference, fuck it. Screaming at speeding cars will never slow them down. The police are very busy with assholes shooting each other, so I won't bother them with minor details. Oh, and I also stopped watching MSNBC. They market in anger. Just like Fox News, they market in rage. I know, MSNBC mostly uses facts while Fox twists facts then tells you a lie, but they both are doing the same thing. Getting people enraged over things they cannot control. I can vote, and I do. That is my responsibility. Hating people, neighbors, politicians, gets me nowhere. I vote and I trust my vote is counted.

By the way. On Monday I went to a cookout at a friend's house. Afterwards, when I returned to my car in the parking lot to leave, a big pile of steaming human poop was sitting next to my car. Right next to the driver's side door. I stepped over it, and got in. I could have got angry, but there was not a thing I could do about it. No matter how angry it could make me, it would still be there after I drove away.