In the spirit of slowly arriving into the space of “new normal” here in Western North Carolina, yesterday I was reminded (and triggered) that we’re not there yet. Just about the time you think you can settle into “things being more reliable”...something happens to remind you that there not.
To get from Brevard to Hendersonville, NC, one of the most effective routes to take is along Kanuga road. However, it’s only been a week or so since the Kanuga route was accessible because of landslides and road damage. (And when I say road damage, what I mean is, the road literally fell off into the ravine below in one particular place and only one lane is even usable there.)
The way that road crews managed this particular spot was to put up signs in both directions that basically said, “please alternate.”
Follow along here as I describe the progression of events. First round...no signs at all. Everyone just automatically knew that to drive this road after Helene meant to be extremely cautious and patient. You slowed down from speeds you would have driven this road just 30 days ago and carried a general sense of “alert and aware” with you. So when you arrived at this location where the road was only one lane (because there is literally only one lane remaining there) you stopped and looked down the road around the curve to see if anyone was coming and then slowly drove through this spot...alternating.
Secondly came the “please alternate” signs at this location. Funny how once a sign shows up some of the human compassion and allowing for patience disappears a little.
Thirdly, when the temporary traffic lights showed up, (this felt a whole lot more normal as a way to experience this one-lane-road-spot) every driver knows how to conduct themselves using red or green as the guide, so things progressed much more smoothly at this location. UNTIL, the traffic lights failed.
This is what I experienced yesterday. The lights were working fine when I drove through there in the morning, but had failed by afternoon. When I arrived...cars were lining up in the lane I approached from. The light was blinking red, which I hadn’t seen here before (also something we’re predisposed to now...the way something was or how something worked before doesn’t necessarily mean it will stay that way). Note here, this is a mountain road which means it’s not straight so you can’t see much further past the few cars in front of you because of the gradient and curves. Since the lights showed up, it might take a minute or two to get through this spot. I now was stopped in this lineup of cars for a good 5 minutes...and then the horn honking started...and then a few folks decided to pull out around the lineup and drive in the opposing lane (to pull out into opposing traffic meant if you met an oncoming car there was no where to go...because the opposing traffic lane had a guardrail that was protecting the mountain drop off on the other side). Next thing I know here comes a car speeding so fast that stones were being kicked up and ...well...let’s just say things were getting a little outta hand at this point. Eventually common sense kicked in and an alternating traffic pattern began again. As I drove through and past the temporary traffic lights I could see that both were malfunctioning. On one side one was blinking red and the other side was just dark...no lights at all.
It was a little unsettling to experience this moment of confusion because it was an immediate reminder of all the chaos and unknowns from all the previous days and weeks. Especially when it leads to frustration and eventually bad human behavior.
I thought to myself, “This is what it feels like when what you come to rely upon becomes unreliable.” You have no other choice but to problem solve and adapt and overcome.
The best part of this...is when humans adapt so quickly and land in a state of collaboration and cooperation that it’s heartwarming.
It’s fascinating to consider the thousands upon thousands of things each and every day that we come to rely upon. Here in WNC, communities have been tested by being torn down even below basics level (power, running water, cell signal, internet, food, shelter, heat), not to mention everything gone in some cases.
This intense level of test creates a whole other level of frustration, loss of hope, dismay, anger, a short fuse and on and on. So when something simple like traffic flow management on a one lane section of mountain road is fixed...and then it’s not...all this flares right back up again.
I was also reminded from this traffic light experience that things around here are still very fragile. It’s going to be a while before we feel solid and stable again. This was a window into the “new normal” for now.
I am becoming aware each day that this won’t last forever...this unstableness. Things are improving day-by-day. Hope is in the air again. In spite of small set-backs like this one.
But I do yearn for the reliable to remain reliable. Patience grasshopper, patience.
Photo credit: from somewhere online
No comments:
Post a Comment