Some times you go through life just drifting. Not making a splash nor are you fighting the tide, you’re just drifting along.
At times like this you start to notice things that have probably been there all the time but you were in too much of a flurry of activity to notice. I think I’m in one of those modes.
One thing I’ve noticed is how many people have defective turn signals on their not-very-old cars.
Yes I know that at the end of Hood Canal where it meets Twin Spits, right or left is the only way you can go, but wouldn’t it be nice for the other cars to know which way you have decided to turn or not turn as you come down Twin Spits?
Or on the highway, a turn-signal light would let everyone know that you are changing lanes. And at the foot of Hood Canal Drive where it meets Little Boston, those oncoming cars could certainly give a warning they will be turning and not going straight down the road to the Little Boston Library or to the Long House or somewhere in that vicinity.
And while I’m noticing those car lights, why is it on these dark rainy days when it more dusk then daylight even at noon, cars don’t realize they need to turn on their headlights (or is it he driver that doesn’t realize)? It’s not for them to see better, but so other drivers can see them. OK, now I have that off my chest.
Another thing I have noticed lately is the many ways people clap. The dictionary states that to clap is to strike one palm against the other to show appreciation. This may be a single blow or several. But there are no further directions.
I see some people cupping their hand and striking it against the other cupped palm to make a whomp whomp whomp sound. Others I see holding their hands straight up and striking the other hand and that makes more of a slap, slap sound.
Still others use one hand like an anvil, hold it stationary and beating it with the other hand. That makes the loudest sound and it does sound more like what clapping is supposed to sound, what ever that is.
Give these three styles a try and see if you might want to change your clapping style.
Not everything I’ve noticed is of the negative type. People seem to be smiling more. For many years I’ve made it a habit to say hello to anyone who makes eye contact. It has been the norm that most people just nod or some say hello and walk away wondering who I am.
However, recently I’m noticing people smiling when they return the greeting. They still walk away wondering, but with a smile. (Maybe it’s my new haircut they like.) And I’m noticing that flowers seem to be lasting longer.
In Hansville the gardens along Hood Canal still seem to be bursting with color, even after the recent winds and hard rains. And, on Cliffside, more people seem to be out walking. And have you noticed that the moon seems to be brighter and seems closer than usual?
Probably not all of these things are new to anyone but me, and probably I’m just becoming more aware of the world than usual, but I don’t care. Even in the November gloom I’m finding life is happier now, and brighter now, and friendlier now for me. I hope you’re feeling this way too. And, do you know of any way we can get this feeling to spread to others?
If you can think of method to do this, let me know. I’m all for spreading happiness around.
Respond to Donna Lee Anderson at welltoldtales@aol.com
