ROADWORKS
One day we
were, as usual, merrily travelling along our local “highway” – heavy peak-hour
traffic as usual with patient drivers listening to a cacophony of drumbeats, rhythmically
nodding their heads and drumming their steering wheels. The sounds were kindly shared by these drivers
who were transported along their weird and wonderful journeys of blissful
oblivion!
There appeared
from nowhere, men with orange jackets – these men with white markers and
tripods were marking places along the roadside.
Drivers casually saw them, not really grasping what was to come.
Yellow tape was
gaily strung along the roadside limiting our regular flow of traffic to a lane
or two; normal road markings were eliminated and we were guided by danger signs
and white barrels. Traffic slowed down
to walking pace and drivers either impatiently drummed their fingers, or
listened to their favourite radio station.
No use getting ourselves into a panic or a frenzy – everyone eventually
gets where he or she wants to be, even though it may be a little (or a lot)
later!
Palm trees
which grew on the sidewalk, were hoisted away with cranes, to be relocated to
greener pastures. See, we don’t limit
our green-feelings only to wild animals!
Great bulldozers roared - a herd of wild elephants was on its way! Great mounds of sand and rubble were scraped
away and moved a couple of meters onwards; front-end loaders flashing their
mighty teeth reared their gigantic heads, greedily grabbing mouthfuls of earth carting them to waiting
trucks. The noise level increased by
several decibels …
Soon, the first
group of men were replaced by teams of workers : each one lazily and leisurely
digging and picking away at our once-upon-a-time roads. About fifty workers, each one knowing what to
do, even though to the ignorant spectators it appears to be a slow-motion drama
unfolding before our eyes. Every day
progress is noted and one can appreciate that they actually DO seem to know
what they are doing!
In a month or
two, all these operations will be memory, and we shall have forgotten the
frustration and late appointments caused by the roadworks! Hopefully the peak-hour traffic will move at
a more rapid pace, and all will be NORMAL!
What is NORMAL I ask myself. Is NORMAL
the everyday occurrence to which we have all become accustomed , or is it
perhaps some future vision which we have, imagining the perfect life!
Linnie
9 july 2O15
