After six years working in the Interior Design industry, I’ve decided it is time to get a degree. When we moved south, my social calendar and work obligations diminished, and the opportunity to pursue higher education became available. I am now attending the Art Institute School and learning more than I could have imagined. Sometimes, it involves Interior Design. More often than not, my education leans Southerly….surprise!
Let me explain…
I drive to school.
If you are not versed in map making before the quest to settle the west, you may be surprised to know that not all cities are designed on the grid system. This area, for example, resembles a bicycle wheel. Several spokes extend from the city south, while various forms of “Sharon” Road intersect. Sharon View, Sharon West, Sharon Lakes; who IS Sharon anyway? As you can imagine, watching Northerners navigate Charlotte’s Web is beyond entertaining. As a matter of fact, watching Southerners is just as fun. Anyway, whilst traversing from east to west (or is that north to south?) toward the school I encounter a couple of vehicular phenomena.
The first involves right hand turns at a red light. Southerners don’t do it. Not that turning right at a red light is illegal; I think they may just be too polite to turn in front of oncoming traffic. It drives New Yorkers crazy, but also provides an opportunity for them to exercise their vehicle warning signal devices…….repeatedly.
The second transportation spectacle worthy of observation is what I like to call the “wave through.” If you live in the north and are reading this, the best way to explain what it looks like is to imagine what happens when you try to pull your car out in to moving traffic. Typically, the driver you are trying to move in front of will gesture you with the middle portion of their hand. In the south, they actually use their whole hand and the gesture indicates that it is O.K. for you to cut them off. Sometimes (like in the north), a battle ensues; it just looks a little different. Southern hospitality prevents the native driver from proceeding, yet the northerner is not versed in polite and therefore confused so they don’t take advantage of this gift. The southerner persists, the northerner resists, the traffic light changes and now we revert to phenomenon number one.
The third traffic wonder is, thus far, the most baffling. It involves those signs that indicate, “No Left Turn.” With all the polite behavior exhibited by my new southern BFF’s, this move makes the least sense. Numerous signs on the entrance road to my school indicate it is illegal to make a left-hand turn into the complex, yet drivers actually form a new left-hand turn lane, pass the entrance somewhat, and then negotiate backwards through the right-hand entrance. I can’t figure it out, but maybe it has something to do with years of pent up frustration navigating Sharon Road. I mean when you finally do find your way, the last thing you want to see is a sign telling you, “Yes! You’re here! But you came from the wrong direction and can’t come in!”
On the other hand, it may have something to do with proper etiquette. After all, there is no mention of, “Please, Do Not Turn Left at this intersection…Thank YEW!” No proper Southern Lady or Gentleman would dare speak a command without the correct opening and closing salutation.
Actually, I think it has more to do with the Northern Aggression on Southern Hospitality. It probably isn’t the Southerners turning left into right hand entrances, more so it is the Noo Yawkers who didn’t recognize the dialect. “No Left Toin” would probably be more effective.
Well, I’ll dutifully study this phenomenon and update you as necessary. In the meantime, here is a picture of the garage. You may now have a more complete understanding of why it is wise to stay IN it.
