Sometimes it is an exit, even though it is not.

I went into a store, bought an item and headed for the exit. A sign posted said not in use, causing me to walk around to the other door, which promptly did not open when I approached. The sign there said not an exit. I had to wait for someone to enter, causing the doors to slide open, before I could leave.

Sometimes it is not an exit, even though it is.

I just wanted to exit. Pass by 10 parked cars, turn left towards the light, then slip right onto the road. Good plan. Not so simple to execute.

Suddenly, a car was backing out right in front of me from a left side parking space. Talking on their phone, the driver was looking the other way when she came to a stop, turned her head and saw me only 3 feet from her driver side door. Yeah, glad I was watching.

Making no attempt to get out of the way, they pulled forward slightly, trying to turn the wheel with one hand. Though I gave her some space, backing up again did not succeed at turning the vehicle enough to make it past the adjacent parked car. Two more rolls forward with backup between them was just enough to turn that stubborn wheel with just one hand and head for the exit, though I could see that we had missed the changing light. At that moment I noticed the trunk bobbing up and down, apparently the driver had left it open.

She stopped half way into the incoming lane, blocking a car trying to enter because there was not room in the exit lane as cars were now waiting. She began looking around a bit frantically to find what was causing the apparent beeping noise, which was the open trunk, of course. The incoming car went around them looking annoyed. With the right hand staying glued to the ear by her phone, she opened their driver door with their left hand and slammed it thinking this was what was indicated by the beeping car alarm.

She then pulled across to get into the outgoing lane and blocked yet another car trying to cross over to our side of the parking lot, with the trunk bobbing up and down and alarm continuing. A person in the right lane next to her was trying to direct her attention to the open trunk, but the light changed letting her proceed to the road without interrupting the phone call. And I waited for the next light.

I have moments like this where I long for self-driving cars. Perhaps they can find the exit more easily than we can. Unless, it is not an exit.

May you enjoy this Happy Friday. Remember to subscribe on the Perspectives page.