a classic street moment

[serinde]

The corner of 78th and York. I'm getting ready to cross York to head down to the river. The light is just about to turn in my favor, but there is a fire engine coming down the avenue all blarin' and flashin', so I maintain position on the curb. The usual few taxis try and dash in front of it, to the usual annoyed ear-splitting horn BLATT. I see, on the curb catty-corner from me, an elderly woman starting across the street. It looks as if she's aware of the fire truck, but is moving up to the edge of traffic in that unique aggressively-nonchalant New York fashion.

Instead, she starts going out into the intersection. Fire truck screeches to a halt, blows its horn. She visibly startles, and steps back.

There is a pause.

AND SHE STARTS ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AGAIN.

I stare agog. The other pedestrians stare agog. The fireman at the wheel stares agog, as his sirens continue to roar.

After she finishes her leisurely stroll, and the truck continues on its way, I start to cross the street, shaking my head. I catch the eye of a fellow crossing in the other direction, who has an identical expression on his face, and we have a Moment of Shared WTF, half-laughing, half-stunned.

Comments

[thewinglover.livejournal.com]

We see this every day in Tokyo. Every single day. People think "Well, since I'm out here crossing the street, obviously I'm not the person dying in the back of that ambulance. Therefore I am more important than the person dying in front of the ambulance and I will walk wherever I damn well please".

They actually have the guy in the front passenger seat of ambulances on a megaphone begging and pleading with people to move out of the way...