I had my Midnight Cowboy moment this week on the big streets of Nashville. I was walking from the bus terminal to the train depot, about eight blocks or so. It was afternoon rush hour. Cars and people everywhere. I slipped into a nice shop on Church Street to look around and grab a soda pop for the train ride home. The soda was hanging in a plastic bag, which was dangling from my left wrist. I had my commute bag on my right shoulder, gaining weight as I walked.
Second Avenue is a busy place in Nashville. Tourist area: honky tonks, Charlie Daniel's museum. The Hooters restaurant.
Before I continue, I must reveal a story that is totally unrelated to my journey: the Hooter's girls were standing on the other side of the street with hula hoops.
Anyway...
The gridlock traffic came to a stop, and an elderly lady stopped her big-a** car directly on the crosswalk. Rude. :-( I had the Green Man, telling me to walk. I had two choices: walk in front of her or walk behind her car. I chose to walk behind. Well, with diet coke dangling, I walked behind her car. At the moment I got right behind her, she put the car in reverse and hit the gas.
She hit me: she flipping hit me. And I am a big boy. How could she NOT see me?
When she hit/nudged me, she sent the diet coke flipping around in the bag, and it came down hard on the top of her trunk with a loud thud. I saw her look in her rear-view mirror. It was like "you just hit my trunk."
Give me a break. A couple of the Hooters girls even looked at me like, "Dude, you just got hit."
Ah, it was a bump. It has been raining here for the last million years, and I was carrying a large umbrella. I just shook my long umbrella at her and said, "I'm walking here: I'm walking here." It was a sweet moment, actually. To get the full effect, go to YouTube and search for Midnight Cowboy I'm Walking Here. :-) Try the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c412hqucHKw
Anyway, the mass transit adventures continues. I am close to selling my car. Been checking out the Blue Book value, calling the bank to see what I owe on it, looking for a local cab company to take me to the train station each morning. The wife can pick me up, but it's a lot to ask for her to get two kids up and take me there each morning. I am so happy about this transition.
Also, on page 100 of the Literary Paris history book, all thanks to mass transit.
Glad it wasn't anything more than a bump. I think the old lady got off easy!
Posted by: Charlotte Rains Dixon | 06/29/2011 at 12:13 AM
I am always glad to read of a man who doesn't fear the coming storm, but learns to dance in the rain. Plus you have to watch those green men as well as the red/orange stop hands.
Posted by: Gerald Dowling | 11/21/2011 at 05:45 PM