Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Talk of the Town


Everybody's talking about it.

It was the lead story on the 8am radio news. The old guys drinking coffee on the porch at the gas station were discussing it. My neighbour wanted to know if I knew. We've been wondering when this was going to happen for a long time. I wonder how long it's going to take us to get used to it.

The big news is that the Island has a Stoplight!! Well, not quite, but a flashing yellow light was installed over the intersection where the fire station is located. It is a leap in to the modern century for us. Now we're on a slippery slope leading to fast food, drive thrus and horror of horrors, a Mall.

The Island is 4000 sq miles of virgin stoplight free territory. It's the last frontier of traffic control. An oasis of unimpeded vehicle movement. I guess I'm okay with it. If they can build a complex high above us in space, it was only a matter of time until that blinking light technology made it's way to here. The first traffic lights were installed in England in 1868. traffics lights became common in the larger U.S. cities in the 1920's. Manitoulin Island is about 140 years off the pace. I'm good with that.

I cant tell people that I live in a land without stoplights anymore. Not that I'd want anyone to be harmed because there wasnt a traffic light where one was needed but it makes things a little less special. A flashing yellow means 'Drive with Caution". Because we are 140 years behind everyone else, I'm pretty sure that we do already.
I hope we are still another century away from a Walmart.

1 comment:

  1. Well, I would say congratulations!! Although the primitive life may have its appeal, the modern life is much more convenient and better. Hope you get that Mall. Haha

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