Just 15 seconds

'Honk!' I am sitting at Hodges Boulevard and trying to make a right hand turn onto Atlantic Boulevard, cross three lanes of traffic and then merge into a left turn lane. All this within 100 yards. 'Beep!' "I can't move," I yell at the car behind me. Or should I say I am choosing not to proceed into the unknown because this large Cadillac SUV is blocking my vision of the on coming traffic. They have pulled out too far in their lane and that is all I can see to my left. Today is beautifully rainy which, too often, can lead to slippery roads (and, may I add, I have two children in the back). So, instead of trusting the source of the honk that the lanes are all clear, I wait. 1, 2, 3, I have decided to count the seconds 'til I get that blessed green arrow pointing to the right. 15 seconds. I know that the source of that honk is not happy about the wait. I know this because in other occasions I have been the honker. No matter how light you push on the horn, it is still intrusive. 15 seconds is all it takes to get upset, frazzled, and mad. Why?

For the five minutes it takes to drive from the front gate to the girls' home, I ponder this wonderful question.

~Maybe they have an emergency and 15 seconds is all it takes for the life and death situation to be resolved. (This is my most popular reasoning for
other's demanding behavior)

-OR-

~Maybe it goes deeper...It may come down to our free will
and the imaginary power someone may have over us.

My roommates often tell me that I don't explain myself or my ideas. So, now, I will purposely explain.

I am taught that I have a free will, I am a free citizen, I can be all I can
be, and I can be whoever I want to be... So, when I want something and there is an obstacle in my way, it must be removed. After all, what is the purpose of an obstacle but to be taken out; wither it is an entrance exam, debt, or the car blocking my path. To me, that car is infringing on my freewill. Well, that's just “un-American."

They, also, have the power to keep me there. I'm trapped in this small
car surrounded by other cars and the slow vehicle in front of me has the power to release me from my prison! So, a little beep lets them know I'm displeased with their leadership skills.

So, what if I am stuck behind someone who is conscious of the power I have given them...for example my mom. When someone honks at her, she knows that she has just been given the power to purposely annoy them because, by honking, they have annoyed her. She will sit at the green light an extra few seconds and then gingerly proceed forward, muttering to herself about 'some people.' Personally, I don't like this approach because by being annoyed, you have just given the honker some power back. By trying to annoy or teaching them to be a little more patient, you have just delayed you own journey. Counterproductive, I must say.

So, I write to the person honking behind me: I'm truly sorry. I am
not going to move. You are not going to pay for the accident that may
happen. And you won't stand next to me comforting me as I look upon my
newly crumpled car. So...please be patient, breathe, and remember, it's
only going to be another 15 seconds