The dreaded envelope arrived.
Calgary Police: You have been ticketed for speeding.
I was supposedly going 80kph in a construction zone where I was supposed to go 60kph.
I plead guilty and it is because in the summer/fall, the entire city becomes a disaster area. As a well-known saying states, here in Calgary there are only two seasons: Winter and Construction.
I have to be very careful because on my daily routes there are signs all the time that say REDUCE SPEED, and being absent-minded, I get distracted.
The fact is that now, after this attack on my pocket, I am going 10kph, so to speak, and I don’t care if others stick their cars to mine, if they pass me slashing their tires, or if they give me the well-known finger sign.
I am only telling this uninteresting story because now every time I see those big signs, sometimes bright, that order you to reduce your speed, I remember that story my father told, who once driving through the province of our country of origin, came across a sign that said REDUCE 60 Km. He responsibly obeyed and lowered his speed.
A little further on:
REDUCE 30 Km.
And a little later:
REDUCE 10 Km.
Already without stepping on the accelerator, another sign appeared: REDUCE 5 Km.
Until finally a big and cheerful sign said:
“WELCOME TO REDUCE”
At least the memory of that joke my father used to tell made me smile.
What was not funny at all was the $239 fine that I proceeded to pay without complaining.
From now on, my slogan is REDUCE and whoever waves me the well-known finger sign, I will say hi accordingly.