Saturday, August 6, 2005

Stopped at a red light on my way home from work, I saw a robust African-American male getting off his car and walking in my direction. He stopped next to the driver’s side of the van behind me. “What the fuck is your problem?!” he screamed through the van’s window. The light had turned green mid-sentence, but I didn’t step on the gas because I wanted to stick around and assist the driver of the van — as a witness, at the very least. When I realized that the van would not have enough room to move unless I moved, I stepped on the gas and stuck my hand out my window to signal the driver of the van to ignore the man and leave the scene. And so it was. As I merged into the freeway I thought, “Poor person, I hope the incident doesn’t cause him/her to drive erratically.” The brown van caught up with me and its window rolled down. On the passenger’s seat sat a teenager who was smiling and waving at me. Next to him sat his mother, looking at me and giving me an even bigger smile.

Earlier on the day a Hummer made a right turn onto the street where I was walking. As the right turn was made, the Hummer’s passengers were heard screaming and laughing at the people standing by the corner. I prepared to receive the same treatment. I decided that I would keep walking and pay no mind to them. Just as I thought, the Hummer and its four passengers drove by me honking the horn, and I… kept walking.

A few weeks ago a coworker challenged me to a fight after a comment I made to a mutual friend. Given that I recognized my mistake in having made the comment, I didn’t accept his challenge but instead offered my apologies and my intent to not let it happen again. The man had already put on a nearby desk his working gloves and tools; he was ready to throw down. For my part, I didn’t feel a damn thing. Neither fear nor the need to fight.

I think I’ve reached a new level of maturity. So far it seems to have spared me of an asskicking or two. 🙂

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