The news alert said that the northbound lanes of I-35 had been completely shut down because of multiple wrecks involving cars and 18-wheelers. The good news was that injuries were not serious.
I'm assuming the alert meant that injuries directly related to the wrecks were not serious. No mention was made of injuries related to road rage.
I suspect that because this was a news alert sent all the way to Wichita Falls, it must have a huge impact on traffic as denizens of the capital try to make it to work on time.
Because I've never lived in a big city, I wonder what happens when you're caught up in a major wreck on your route to work. I guess you use your cell phone and call the boss and say you'll be late, but don't know how late. But, what happens to your paycheck? Are you docked for the time you were sitting in traffic? Do you work late to make up the hours?
And how can anyone living in Austin, Dallas or Houston make an appointment and ever expect to actually make it on time?
Two of my daughters live south of Houston. One evening we had a dinner reservation at a nice restaurant downtown. How, I asked the daughter I was driving with, could she possibly make a reservation in good conscience when she had no idea whatsoever that she'd be there on time or an hour late.
She just shrugged and said you gave it your best shot.
This would make me crazy, but, then, I hate to be late anywhere.
One of the reasons I enjoy listening to NPR out of Dallas as I drive my seven minutes to work every morning is the traffic report.
I'm not sure how much you'd have to pay me to go through what those people have to go through every day just to get to work and home.
It's amazing there aren't more workplace killings there.
But, I bet the hostility is so thick you couldn't pierce it with a shot from an Uzi.