Speed Dial

There are some traits, some characteristics that, no matter how much you like a person, will rub you the wrong way. Sometimes it is something as innocuous as that fidgety person setting there tearing up the paper napkin - for those of you who have had to put up with those of us who tear paper, or tap pencils, or drum fingers, I apologize.

Sometimes the cause of irritation is as hard to put a finger on as a frog in a pond. Other times you know it is a contrived simile that is irritating you.

Yesterday I was at the doctor's with my mom. The doctor was a leisurely moving gentleman who seemed to have all the time in the world. His chief assistant and nurse was a pinging bundle of energy and intensity who knew he did not. As she flew from room to room and corner to corner, he ambled from area to area. The effect was as if he was a planet slowly moving across the universe and she a wildly rotating moon sort of following along.

At times the planet-doctor would look around trying to locate the wild-moon-nurse and get irritated because she wasn't where she would be if she had stayed on course and on pace – his pace- while the wild-moon-nurse couldn't believe the planet-doctor was dragging his heels so. It's a wonder there wasn't a Big Bang.

You've seen it before. People who have everything in common...except their pace. Their speed dials are set at a different rate of living.

The first time I noticed this was at work. A group of five were to meet with our CFO about some highly important and unforgettable issue which escapes me just now, and were in a pre-meeting to go over the details, i.e., trying to get our story straight. This group was rather relaxed, calmly discussing the remarkably impressive issue of the day, sharing our opinions while enjoying each others company. Then the CFO walked in.

He didn't so much walk in as burst through the door, grab a seat and start talking. He said a quick “Hello,” briefly stated the issue under discussion, and started into his thoughts. He then paused briefly, asked if anyone had any other thoughts, then, before anyone spoke up, said, “Okay, that is what we will do. Thanks.” And he left.

We sat there stunned and someone said, “OOOOkay. I guess that about covers it.” Everyone gave that wide eyed, open handed look that says, “What can you do?” He had been courteous and had offered everyone an opportunity to speak, but everyone felt railroaded. Yet, I had, before and since, witnessed this same group with the same CFO using the same speed, but feeling involved and important.

The difference was that at this meeting our speed dials were on "slow" and his was on “busy.” There was a mismatch and we were irritated.

I say all of that to point out that the reason I got my ticket was that the State Trooper and I had our speed dials set at different rates. I think his setting was closer to his radar gun. With just a slight adjustment on his part, this never would have happened.