I haven't forgotten

Oh, I am still here and still giving gifts each day-little ones mostly. You know-tips for "counter people", letting others pass in traffic, picking up dropped items for someone in a store, driving my son's friends home, dropping off drinks to the HS baseball team, and returning empty ink cartridges to the school for charity. One different gift occurred after a very rude man cut me off in traffic at the roundabout in my home town. I thought about zipping off a snippy letter to our local paper, but then decided to get my message across in a less nasty tone. Here is the Ode to an Angry Driver that I submitted to our paper this week:

Dear Editor: I have lived near the Lincoln Street and Rt. 14 intersection for almost 20 years, so I have seen many things. But this week was a new one and it stuck with me. Therefore, I have written a special poem in honor of the "gentleman" I encountered this week:

My direction was south and yours was west,
but the driver before you came first.
He yielded to traffic, then did pass,
and what happened next was simply the worst.

I slowly edged into the circle,
since, of course, I was next.
What you did in the blink of an instant,
is what had me very perplexed.

You raced your car to block my path,
just missing me by 6 inches.
You held up traffic for about a minute
to make sure I got your message.

All the while your finger was flapping,
repeatedly pointing and furtive,
to the Yield sign behind my head;
your manner was very assertive.

You see "kind" sir, you were wrong, not I.
You, too, had a red Yield sign.
I arrived before you and was to your right,
the right of way was clearly mine.

So I suggest you dust off that manual
and read those rules again,
or the next person you anger or nearly kill,
could very well be a friend.

And the biggest gifts have been to me. I started attending Weight Watchers meetings and, as a result, have rejuvenated my weight loss efforts and am exercising regularly-walking, jogging and strength training and feeling great.

Hope all my 29 gifts friends are doing well. I will try to be better about keeping track, but I know I have made the effort every day. Still goin' strong on Day 11, Round 4!