By Neal Lemery
August: the height of “no left turn season”, where the simple errand to the grocery store or the post office turns into a lengthy frustration with traffic, aimless drivers, large crowds, and, too often, chaos.
Lines for anything are long, tempers are short, and part of me often loses my sense of hospitality and courtesy.
“Why don’t they all go home?” is often what the voice in my brain shouts, as I wait for the traffic to move ahead, or to advance in the grocery line. Sometimes, I think negative thoughts as I see the overflow parking at some of my favorite views along my usual routes.
I’ve decided my August attitude truly needs some adjustment, and a lot of calming meditation. I think I need a vacation from all the vacationers, and I want my little town back, in all its rainy and grey glory. I’ve somehow forgotten to just let it go, to sit out on the deck and enjoy our glorious summer weather, have a cold beverage, and play my guitar.
My better response to all the crowds and frustration is to turn my emotions around and to practice some random acts of kindness. In the Jewish tradition, doing good deeds is a command from God, a mitzvah, an element of one’s religious practice. Other religions have similar ideals, and I think it is time to adopt this idea and incorporate it into the Oregon coast summer lifestyle.
Lately, I’ve been letting other drivers turn into my lane, or escape the sideroad, letting them get ahead of me in the seemingly endless line of traffic. They won’t get far, but I have the satisfaction of knowing that they became less frustrated and more likely to enjoy their visit. Doing that has improved my blood pressure.
The person with one or two items in the grocery store line now can go ahead of me, experiencing an act of kindness from a local who has had their fair share of uncharitable thoughts about the number of tourists clogging the coast. It is not their fault that the good weather and the beastly heat of the Valley has brought even more people here to taste the ice cream, walk on the beach and enjoy the natural beauty we call our birthright. Soon, their vacation will end, school will start, and they will finally leave. No left turn season will end and we will get our beaches back.
I can be patient and kind. Time is on my side. I’m not going to complete my own errands any faster, and certainly not much slower by letting someone cut in a line of traffic, or take a seat in a crowded restaurant. I’m not going anywhere, and I might as well use the time to take a breath, enjoy the moment, and appreciate that I don’t have to stress about finding a room or campsite for the night. My room reservation is already made, and the morning coffee will be just as I like it.
Being patient and forgiving of the sometimes stressed tourists looking lost and bewildered really takes nothing away from me. When they leave, I can still satisfy my ice cream fix, walk on my favorite beach, and take the time to enjoy the ever-changing wonders of nature outside of my windshield.
Books: NEW book – BE THE CHANGE – One Random Act of Kindness at a Time; Neal’s other books include: Building Community: Rural Voices for Hope and Change; Finding My Muse on Main Street, Homegrown Tomatoes, and Mentoring Boys to Men