Crosswalks

I really don’t enjoy walking, as it involves moving my legs and carrying my own body weight (plus the occasional backpack) around, while trying to avoid obstacles of many kinds. But, in lack of a driving license, I find myself walking to bus and train stations. This involves using crosswalks. I love the concept of crosswalks, trying to create some much needed order in the chaos of the streets, but the execution is terrifying to me.

It’s the actual crossing that’s stressful. I’m afraid to fall, or that the light will turn red while I’m still walking. Here in the U.S, it’s even more concerning, as the lights also indicate how much time is left to cross. I take a breath, then remember my mom. As a kid, after a visit to Tel Aviv, I shared the crosswalk fear with my mom. She thought for a second, then said: “Well, you know they time it so that old people can cross too, right? So you can walk as slowly as you want.”