I was driving home from a routine appointment and saw hazard orange “ROAD WORK” signs. I read all the construction signs and saw that both left lanes were closing. As several other drivers did, I moved into the right lane. We drove for about two miles when I realized people ignored the lane closure signs.
I braked on that thought. One truck sped by on the left. Then a car and a line of vehicles followed after that. After another mile, only the inner left lane was open. The semi shifted to the left and blocked the others from passing.
Some drivers had the audacity to pass on the right shoulder. I was annoyed. All those cars were either merging behind me or ahead of the semi-truck. The drive was stagnant.
For once, I was glad to be driving behind a semi-truck. No one else could zoom by in the construction zone. Plus, no one dared squeeze between the semi and my car. As orange barrels closed in on the remaining left lane, I saw workers and man-made holes. They were taking the time to legitimately fix the road. Where I live, workers usually shovel mounds of gravel into the holes. The gravel pings and clinks in the underbody of our vehicles and we hope it doesn’t cause any damage.
I was grateful to see this team solving the problem. I rolled down my window and shouted as clearly and loudly as I could, “Thank you!” I thought about giving a thumbs up, but I didn’t want it to be confused for an impolite hand gesture. Earlier, I had to stop myself from giving that one finger gesture to the people passing on the shoulder. Who knows what that could have caused.
I’m grateful for that team and their hard labor.
When they go home to their families and talk about their day, they can say a lot of people ignored their road work signs and drove too fast. Instead, I hope they tell their loved ones that someone rolled down the window and thanked them.
To me, a small “thank you” shows great appreciation. Try thanking someone who might often be taken for granted. Feel free to tell me about it in the comments. Live a grateful life.
I wish you the best.