I’m fast.
Not short mini skirt and red lipstick kinda fast.
The kind of fast that shows up 15 minutes early no matter how hard she tries to be late. The kind of fast that needs you to get to the point…now. The kind that grits her teeth when people here in Israel say to her, “L’at l’at.” (slowly, slowly)
It’s kind of ironic — when Israelis tell me “slowly slowly.”
Most of them are trying to be kind; encouraging.
But is this really authentic?
Israelis, stereotypically, are the last people with patience for doing anything slowly.
Especially driving.
Israeli drivers, notoriously, are maniacs.
“Yes, we know,” you say. Maybe you follow it up with the “Ain Ma La’sot?” shrug.
What can we do about it other than drive defensively? you ask.
It’s a good question.
The other day a man was killed during the afternoon rush hour in a car accident on the road I take to and from work.
It was raining. There was oil on the road.
It could have been me.
I don’t know if recklessness was involved or not. But I wouldn’t be surprised.
Every day I drive like my life depends on it. Not because it does. But because all of my fellow drivers seem to be so focused on getting somewhere fast, they are unaware of the fact that I want to live.
Every time I am on the road, driving the speed limit or a reasonable level over — drivers pass me at lightning speed. They take over the opposite lane so they can pass the tractor trailer. They drive up my rear as if there is a free gift in my trunk.
What are they rushing to?
Death, obviously.
In my humble opinion, there are only three non-life-or-death reasons to rush anywhere in your car — and they all involve an orifice.
You need to pee. You need to poop. Or you need to push a baby out.
Not in that order.
Yes, Israeli drivers as a rule drive dangerously, but there IS something we can do.
Be one less dangerous Israeli driver on the road.
Be mindful of how you perceive your deadline.
Do you really need to get to work exactly on time?
Will the world end if you are late to that meeting?
No, it won’t. So keep your rage at bay, your phone in your purse, and your eyes on the prize — living.
And — slowly slowly: be the change you want to see on Israeli roads.
and yadda yadda, an aliyah blog 