While I am sure the perception of me is some old curmudgeon, I think, although my wife and children might disagree, that I am a relatively happy go lucky kinda fella. Sure I have some banes to my daily existence. Most of which would disappear, if those around me showed any civility or occasionally exercised some common sense. This year, one of my worst daily experience is now kaput. Well, not truly kaput, but is irrelevant to me. You see I no longer have to endure the Collegiate Middle School carpool line. (My Personal Purgatory Began Today - August 26, 2006.) My son, Stuart, is now charged with the daily duty of delivering his sister to school each morning. Free at last. Free at last. Hallelujah, I am free at last!

     Well, maybe not completely free. I still need to manuever out of my neighborhood each morning as I venture forth to face the world. I don’t know about you, but I learned fairly early in my childhood that you walked facing traffic. Later on, when I mastered riding a bicycle, I was taught you ride WITH traffic. Okay, maybe it wasn’t kindergarten, but I know it was before I was 10 that these simple rules were ingrained in my head. Then, why doesn’t anyone in my neighborhood seem to know them.

     Look, I’ve got nothing against walkers, joggers, baby strollers, and even your dogs on long leashes. I don’t care if you do any of these things three abreast and taking up half of the road. Just do them on the left side of the road. Doesn’t matter which way you’re facing, just be on the left side. Got it? That way you’ll see me and I’ll see you. Thank you!