Journey through the daffodils

The other day Lily and I were walking to our car along a narrow sidewalk. We had just been to the pharmacy to refill my allergy meds. We were meandering at a Lily pace. Behind me a young man was walking at a grown up pace. His quick footsteps came up behind us so fast and he had to abruptly halt, I could feel the swoosh of his sudden appearance. He couldn't slow down and couldn't pass us so he started to shuffle behind us from one foot to the other. He was brushing up against me, pacing back and forth trying to find an opening to get around us. I was walking right next to Lily and I stopped walking in order to let her get a few steps ahead of me. Then I could step behind her and let him pass. When I stopped Lily stopped. I tried to get behind her but the man was so close to me from behind that I couldn't slip behind her. I tried taking her hand and scootching her forward a bit, but she hates to have her hand taken and resisted. I tried stepping to the other side to get out of his way, but as I stepped this way, Lily would step that way, etc. So there I was dancing with a young man and Lily on the sidewalk. I turned and looked him in the eye and said, "excuse me". I picked up Lily and stepped out of his way to let him pass. He gave me a dirty look and rushed past us. The whole encounter lasted less than a minute. I know a whole minute is a long time for busy grown up type persons but geezzz.

I should have held my ground and made him meander behind us along the sidewalk until we got to our car, but his urgent shuffle was driving me crazy. Sometimes I miss the rush in life. Ever since Lily was born I have been forced to slow it all down. It takes us about 15 minutes to walk the 100 yards to the playground. We have to stop and pick the yellow flowers, stop and talk about the grass, we have to hop on one foot and then the other, pick up sticks... For the most part I like this pace of life. It is quite new for me to be a stop and smell the roses type of person. And every once in awhile I miss the urgency and thrill of a speedy existence. Mostly I like it better this way.

What about you? Are you a tailgater? In the car or walking? Do you like to get where you are going as quickly as possible or do you like to enjoy the walk? What is the priority, destination or journey?