Posted by
texasfarmboy on Monday, March 10, 2008 12:00:00 AM
I live in the country and take my dog for a walk almost every night. We both enjoy the night air and the stars and the exercise. We generally go about 9:30PM so that there won't be so many cars going by. We don't use a leash but when a car is coming I simply call him and he walks beside me until the car passes. It is really great time to be out. But it isn't as good as it used to be. More and more people are moving out here and bringing the city to us. I get a kick out of watching people as they drive (operate a vehicle is a more accurate statement). I believe that kids are no longer being taught to drive by dads. Most people today have no idea how to drive or how a motor vehicle operates. All they know is how to start the engine, put the car in drive (notice I didn't say in gear), push down on the gas pedal, and push down on the brake pedal. There is a "S" curve on the road I walk down and both ends can be negotiated at about 20mph. I watch people come flying up to the first curve, brake hard, get around the curve and then accelerate hard to the next curve and repeat the process. I have concluded that the price of gas has not gotten to high yet. Other wise they would learn to coast and accelerate more gently. Another thing that is happening more and more is being blinded by bright lights and fog lights. Do people not know that the electricity powering those lights come from the car's alternator? The more electronic gizmos, the lower the gas mileage. Not only that, they are blinding everyone approaching from the other direction.