Hello everyone:

It’s Christmas time and all the nut jobs are working overtime, or so it seems. While many completely sane people (like you and me) are trying to make it through Blood Alley (aka shopping center parking lots) alive, there are some definite things not to do. (Please note that I observed this this afternoon in my local grocery store parking lot, so this news is fresh!)

A lady walked out of the store, pushing one of those little carts you get if you aren’t buying much. She threw caution to the wind by not taking the time to see if anyone was coming; she was in the crosswalk, so it was her right-of-way, right?

She proceeded to almost get hit by two different cars going in opposite directions as she walked boldly (to boldly walk where no woman has gone before- my paraphrase) across the blacktop. She then continued towards her car, walking down the middle of the roadway, ignoring those of us who were following behind her in our cars.

After unloading her groceries, she headed to the cart corral and pushed her empty cart in the direction of the corral……the cart did not make it. As she turned and walked back across the lot (without any regard for the fact that I was in danger of putting out her lights permanently), the cart took off down the slopped lot.

The cart picked up speed as it careened down the lot, narrowly missing several parked cars. The woman did not notice my frantic waving- she must have thought I was just being friendly. The cart, now moving at a very brisk pace, headed right in front of an on-coming car. There was no collision, but there were more parked cars ahead……

By the grace of God and the increased slope of the parking lot, the cart turned towards the one place where it would not hit anything- the drainage ditch. The last I saw of the recalcitrant cart, it was full-speed-ahead for the water retention pond.

The lesson here: watch out what you are doing when you leave the store and make sure that the buggy goes where it should……and I haven’t even told you about the lady who ran two stop signs and a traffic light at the mall today. Perhaps I will, another day.

Best,

Dr. Sheri