Speedbumps and Stoplights

A strange coincedence is that the distance between my site and my shopping town is approximately the same as the distance between my parents' house and their lake house. While the scenery is wildly different (the green Kalahari versus upstate New York Finger Lakes), the route has some surprising similarities. For example, both trips involve traveling over paved and unpaved roads in rural areas.

Most annoying however are man-made traffic controls. Back in the States these take the form of 17 stoplights over the 3 miles closest to home. Nothing is more aggravating than hitting all red lights and having to spend 20 minutes traveling a distance that should take 5.

Similarly, very close to town here in South Africa, is a string of speedbumps. Not two or three, a string, it feels like an endless, infinite series. It's obnoxious no matter what direction I'm traveling in. As long as I'm sitting in a moving vehicle, I want to really be moving, not suffering through constant cycles of slowing down and speeding up.

And yet, here I am.

The shouting match over women's rights is not helping. Man in the front claims women abuse does not exist, women in the back beg to differ. Apparently, whoever shouts the loudest is winning. And we have a new contender in row 2. And we're quoting popular TV series as arguments. And giving everyone in the vehicle a nice spray of saliva. This is fun.

See what you're missing? Shame. At least there are no stoplights.