119: When the Tension Rises...
The following story is true.
Two women drive into the parking lot of a local restaurant. The woman in the lead vehicle is irritated, wondering why the other driver is tailgating her.
Before the drama ensues, for clarification, neither woman (the tailgated or the tailgater) is young or driven by the youthful, bitchy angst you would expect from the drama that is about to go down. Both women are older, mature, but not yet in the senior adult category.
The "tailgated" brakes, shoves her vehicle into park, exits the vehicle loaded-for-bear, and prepared to give the "tailgater" a piece of her mind (and given her current agitation, more if necessary). The "tailgater" does the same.
A few minutes of volatile, face to face, confrontation occurs, watched by patrons and employees inside the restaurant.
The "tailgated" having made her rage-induced point returns to her vehicle, no longer interested in the dinner she had hoped to enjoy. The "tailgater" parks her vehicle, enters the restaurant, and takes her place in a booth.
The "tailgated" remains in her vehicle for a moment, pondering the verbal and borderline physical exchange that just occurred. She feels convicted, realizing this is not her personality, her vibe, and certainly not what represents her values.
The "tailgated" parks and exits her vehicle, this time in a more reserved, humbled mode.
She makes her way into the diner, spots the "tailgater" seated in a booth. The "tailgated" approaches the seated "tailgater," as she's scanning her menu.
The "tailgated" begins to humbly apologize for her actions in the parking lot. The "tailgater" replies with the same. And the "tailgated" asks if she can join the "tailgater" in her booth for dinner.
For the next hour, they dine together, get acquainted, enjoy casual conversation. The wait-staff is equally humbled by their display of humility, admitting they were concerned the parking lot scenario could have ended much different.
The "tailgated" and the "tailgater" exchange contact information. Then, in a final act of gracious humility, the "tailgated" pays for the "tailgater's" meal.
And, for a moment, at least in that lil' corner of a world full of unresolved tensions, all is right!
On occasion, regardless of age, gender, or lifestyle, you're either the "tailgated" or the "tailgater."
How you navigate the tension is on you, because we never age out of the need for humility or civility - something we could all use.
Press on...
Eddie