People on the Sidewalk

I’m walking from my office to my American Sign Language class and catching up with my mother on the phone. It’s a short walk and today I’ve given myself plenty of time to arrive early. 

As I’m rounding the turn for class, the group of people, two women and a man probably 5 – 10 years older than me, stop abruptly in the middle of the sidewalk, effectively blocking the path for everyone so they can dabble in a long drawn out goodbye. 

I’m shocked at what I perceive as a total lack of situational awareness. I stop answering my mom for a second as I navigate around them.

“Are you there?” my mom asks. 

“Yeah, sorry, just had to maneuver around some people who don’t understand how sidewalks work.” 

“Be nice,” my mom says and I am hit with a twinge of Midwest guilt.

We finish our conversation and I climb the steps to class and I don’t think much about my impatience.

Two hours later, my classmates and I loiter in front of the building. We chat for a bit before making our weekly trip to the Japanese grocery store that begins selling sushi and onigiri for half price at the exact hour class ends. 

It’s a couple blocks between class and our spot and five of us are making the pit stop today. As we walk and translate and clarify things we learned in class, I feel someone in my peripherals. I am now the group that someone has to maneuver around.

It’s easy to think someone is in your way. 

But there’s a good chance if you spin around long enough, you’ll find yourself in someone else’s way. 

Perhaps then, the only option is to extend a little Midwest grace.