Post-It

Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela!

/ ludlumdrive / Leave a comment

971356_689996961026632_289724379_nThe United Nations has proclaimed today, his 95th birthday, Nelson Mandela’s day. I know, there will be tons of tributes, speeches, accolades and trombones, marches and volunteer work… I have read it all today, seen many pictures floating but many are lacking and forgetting one of, if not the most important factor of all, forgive me, his resolve. Yes, resolve.

A friend of mine posted a video o President Obama’s speech at the University of Cape Town and he asked his daughter on the post, to pay attention to 12:15 – 12:23 minutes. It caught my attention; so, I did but I wonder how many did.

I paid attention to one particular sentence in the middle of the little speech minute section, “You showed us how bitter adversaries can reconcile…”. Yes, bitterness, adversaries, reconciliation, pardon…

How many of us can say that we have the resolve, are tenacious enough, set aside all of our differences and take one for the team regardless how it cuts to your core value and soul, and unite the team? I mean, how many of us have forgiveness as a word on speed dial?

Yes, it takes a village to raise a child but it also takes a village of emotions to let go of our bitterness and embrace our enemy or adversary, those who have wronged us but not all of us can. Some can but most can even forgive what was said to us a few seconds ago lest 27 years and in prison.

It cuts to the core of a bucket of shuffled emotions; it takes a special kind of person, a person with a resolve, a bigger man. Mandela was that person, a bigger man. There are a few of them out there you know and you hear theirs stories every-now-and-then but no one like Mandela. He was the head master in charge.

So today while giving your propos, writing your tributes to Mr. Mandela, take time and do what he did, forgive those who have wronged you in any way. Be that bigger person and exercise your resolve. Trust me, it only takes one hand.

Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela!

Knucklehead Of The Week

/ ludlumdrive / Leave a comment

20130607_125459Now, this one falls right there in the category of What Were You Thinking or Things I Would Not Be Caught Doing. Yes, it does but this South Florida and all bets are off. Nothing comes as a surprise.

No, I am no paparazzi nor play one on TV but just can’t understand this as often as it happens to the frustration of many. Even if in a hurry, I would have parked my car in a corner somewhere, away from the traffic or wait a few seconds, perhaps God was telling him something like, “if you leave now you may break your leg if you leave right at this moment…”, but Mr did not care. He wasn’t listening. He left his car right there, blocking everyone. Touche! Forget about the person who wanted to exit. Forget about the person who wanted to pass. Forget about the person who wanted to park.

20130607_125527And the honking session begins. Who is listening?

20130607_125601Then suddenly he is out, without a care in the world, not even an apology.

20130607_125604Gets into his car and drives away. Happy Friday to you too Mr.!

On The Way 2 Traffic School

/ ludlumdrive / Leave a comment

As the say goes here, you not only drive for yourself but everyone else. This is how some drive In Miami.

The road is their oyster, their toy and you are not invited to the play. You need to constantly be on the alert, on guard for the other driver. They come out of nowhere with a force of 100 pound gorilla, forcefully and your breaks better be ready, on their toes, fine and tuned just enough for you not to hit a third driver while dodging the first. It is a given and they are never apologetic.

It is comical but it is true. They don’t care. They have no regards for anyone or anything and seem to always have the most proverbial excuse on the table, “this is the way I drive in my country”. Fill in the blanks with the countries. You name it, they are on the list!

They just go without regards or thought. They speed, they zigzag, they give you the middle finger or hunk back when you hunk at them. They believe they own the roads and have rights to it, “freedom of speech” as they say and for that, they are allowed to do whatever they want and you as the other driver, better fend for yourself.

Just picture this, coming out of a strip mall. I am behind the Lexus and can see it coming. I smell it. This is Miami and patience run thin; it is not a virtue. I blame it on the heat. Pardon me, I blame everything on the heat because that’s the only thing that makes sense.

Gridlock to the max. Three vehicles were trying to exit at the same time but the Flamingo oil truck found itself in a peculiar position and needed to back up first. But it had no where to go as it had to wait on the other truck caught on the red light to move first, before it could move. Meanwhile, we all waited. Remember, I am behind the Lexus and to my right, there are cars parked in the emergency lane. So, we were already in the middle of the road to begin with.

While waiting for the red light to change to green, the two trucks to move, there came another driver, speeding down as if in hurry. Huh?! This is a two way street, where did he think he was going? First of all, he was on the wrong lane, I can just imagine what could have happened if another car was going straight ahead in the opposite direction. Touche, it would have also got stuck as it perhaps, would not have anywhere to go. Second, where was the driver going? We were sitting ducks, the road was blocked, the oil truck still not backed up and we were all waiting. But that did not stop the driver of the Infinity QX4. He just wanted to go and going, he was.

Finally, the oil track gets going. The traffic was moving.

But before he could breath, there went the Lexus. I wonder what happened at the traffic school.

Meanwhile, I am sitting, waiting for my turn. I am next, I am thinking and I am going straight but wait, the oil truck had still not moved. I will go as soon as he goes. Nope, there was not to be! Like Speedy Gonzales, there went the Infinity driver without a care in the world. What if the oil truck had moved? Imagine if I had gone straight as expected?! Yup, you not only drive for yourself but everyone else too because everyone is in a hurry. To where? I have no idea; perhaps, the traffic school?!