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My Pet Peeves

 


Saturday, as I stood at track meet next to another 'Shot Put Mom'. Awaiting her son to throw. Keeping our volume low. I remarked, "You know what my main three pet peeves are?" She angled her head towards me. I nodded. "Um..." She responded, "You forgot your pet peeves?"

We giggled. And then I replied, "Good God I have so many. It's not three." We cynically scoffed in synchronization. Whereas tailgating raced through my mind. People who don't use their blinkers.

I slowly arrived at, "People who roll through stop signs. People not picking up after their dogs. And you don't cross a track while an event is being run. But what's got me now, are the loud talkers when a guy's going to throw. Like seriously, you have no respect? Definitely cigarette smoking." I then mind my volume, "Oh, I have so many."  

A guy is getting to throw... a minute later... my mind relaxes in between videoing throws, timing kids on the track, watching forms as hurdlers leap over obstacles. My pet peeves weave their way into the right side of my mind... They lay dormant, as I imagine them resting, waiting for an attack just oblique of my right temple. No one sees them. My pet peeves laying in wait that is. But I hear them knocking. Ready to yell, 'No more filtering!' One ebbs and flows... into the unfiltered vicinity. 

I calm it down and let it ride in my mind. 'It's the damn illegal cell phone use while driving. Or just too much of it while driving. I really don't care if it's hands free. It's just inappropriate. No one is that important.' Then my brain relaxes as I soak up the sun timing kids. 

A couple of them finish, leaning over the fence near me and puke a foot away from where I stand. I giggle. Looking at a kid from an opposing team. He looks at me. The dark skinned young man of Indonesian descent, nods politely. He holds his hands as if in prayer. Looking me straight in the eye. He bows a little, then remarks. "I'm good." I respond smiling. "Thank you so much, young man." I digress. 

Tuesday I receive a long-distance call from long time friend, Non-Stop Nina. During our at least hour long conversation. For we hadn't spoken in probably a year. We email, snail mail, mostly for now. It's been almost thirty years every week.   

We begin to talk about miracles. Then I blurt out. "Ah haha! That is my biggest pet peeve. Nina, it's 'People who don't acknowledge miracles'..." -Jody-Lynn Reicher 


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