Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Why Should We Change Lanes?

Dinner with friends is always very interesting. They bring a new insight to the table every time we meet. For example, a friend told me that she heard of a man that lived a very long time and attributed his longevity to never making a left turn.

See, that just sets me off on a trail of life lessons that probably will never end.

Should we always turn right?
My uncle told about a car he and some friends bought as emergency transportation when he worked on the railroad...it may have been free though. It could not turn left. A bent fender on the left side of the car make it impossible. The very small town in Eastern Oregon made it possible for them to maneuver the car to where they wanted to go simply by turn right enough times. I laugh every time I picture them going by the drug store on main street in a different direction until they arrived at the local greasy spoon.

As for the man that never turned left, my friend thought the man was onto something. She always drove in the right lane if she could. She avoids changing lanes at all cost so if a left turn is necessary she will drive all the way across town in the left lane just in case. She does not want to be blocked when she actually needs to make her turn.

I am not afraid to change lanes even though I do get honked at once in awhile. As I have aged, I like taking more risks and turning left either on the road or even in my life gives me the sense that I am not boxed into one ride over and over.

Don't you think that turning left once in awhile is a wonderful idea? Are you afraid to make a left turn?

b+

Note: This is not a political discussion but......! After all, I am a liberal.

18 comments:

  1. Chuckled, because I know a number of people who avoid left turns in their cars as best they can (I have a feeling it is more common than we think). And guess what, today, in a primary vote, I turned left. @RamblinGarden

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    1. Well, there you go...changing lanes. Or maybe you are making a choice out of free will not because the doctors office is 'over there'. :)

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  2. Well ... isn't retirement one big left turn?

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    1. Yes it is! ONE BIG LEFT TURN!!! We need to sell tee shirts!

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  3. I laughed about this because my husband, although he will make left turns, refuses to use the roundabout in our town. He will drive 15 miles out of his way just to avoid it. How far will we go just to avoid something?

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    1. Yes, facing the roundabout is almost as bad as making a left turn. A person had to count how many roads they go by, keep track of the inner and outer lane and know they have made a mistake when they keep passing the same street over and over. A fifteen mile detour seems very reasonable to me.

      As for avoiding change, I think if we were to put it into miles, it would circumnavigate the world!

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  4. As a leftie I am always turning left even when instructed to turn right - lol!

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    1. Oh my goodness Antionette, you have described my life. For me right is left...or the other right as I keep telling my husband. It is all very confusng.

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  5. Great post, Barbara! I agree - we all need to turn left at least once in awhile.
    Donna
    www.retirementreflections.com

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    1. Change is good! It is what keep me getting up in the morning...I love it!

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  6. I make left hand turns all the time ... but then ... I am left handed. :)

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    1. As you may have noted, my left is my right. It is very confusing.

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    2. As you may have noted, my left is my right. It is very confusing.

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  7. I make left turns, sometimes waiting a LONG while because I need at least a quarter mile of clearance before I'll pull out in front of a car coming the opposite direction.

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    1. A friend told me yesterday that a "guarded left turn" is ok. Other wise you needed to drive until you find one. I was speechless.

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. What a wonderfully thought-provoking post. As a leftie, I'm quite comfortable with left-turns, although they require a patience I have to reach deep for.

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    1. Now there is a lesson in life I think. Like a left turn, change requires a patience you need to reach deep for. Thank you for that Deb.

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