On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 13:20:50 -0400, "C. E. White"
I wish more of these doddering old fools WOULD remember it. Unfortuately, they all seem to get "Alzheimer's" when it comes time to hang up their keys.
Nothing a little planning won't take care of.
pedestriandriver incidentsOnce you're in a crosswalk with the light, you have the right of way. The driver has to yield; it's the law. The timer at that intersection is off if you have the signal...
It took a little effort - but not much - to find my current home. If I were to lose my ability to drive today, I would be just fine as long as I could still walk. Within walking distance of my house are:
pedestriandriver incidentsHere's an incident I was in as the pedestrian (more than once): Busy intersection. There's a crosswalk. The walk signal turns white (all lights are red at this point for a split...
* At least 5 bus routes * A Metrolink train station * 4 grocery stores (Ralph's, Smart & Final, Trader Joe's, and a Ma & Pa ethnic food store) * A medical clinic * Dental offices * Dry cleaners, shoe repair stores * My pets' veterinarian * A couple of drug stores * Several restaurants, including three pizza places (plus, of course, more that will deliver to my house), fast food, delis, etc. * Probably 30-50 other stores I can't recall the names of at the moment
Nope. I'm planning on continuing to live a pretty normal life, getting lots of exercise and not being overly dependent on others for my daily needs. Of course, that's because I *planned* for it. Most people never give a second's thought to the idea that they won't be able to drive forever. They buy cheap(er) McMansions out in Buttf*** Egypt that are totally inaccessible except by car, and then when something happens they're caught off guard. My former neighbors are like this; they have lived in a very nice suburban house for 30 years. They have a great house on an acre of land, but they're a mile from the closest stores and 7-10 miles from most things. Recently the husband had a bout with cancer and couldn't drive; his wife still could, until she caught the flu last winter and couldn't drive, either. Suddenly they were shut-ins, and were *totally* unprepared for it.
That will *never* happen to me or my wife. And all it took was a little bit of simple planning.
-- Sloth Kills!
