Give Gap Take Gap was a road sign I once passed while entering the outskirts of south Atlanta one afternoon, doing about the average speed of 65 mph. No sooner had I wondered to myself, "Hmmm... I wonder what that sign means" when I realized I was now merging with another full lane of traffic also doing 65 or better. With barely any time to scream, cry or laugh (all of which I was doing), I gave a gap to the driver on my left and took a gap offered on my right. And it actually worked. None of us died, created a wreck, or for that matter, slowed down even a little. My voice returned to its original octive with a little twitter of insane laughter. My passengers (also with their hair on end, but laughing) congratulated me on not getting us killed and saying, "I guess I know what that means now."
I have never seen a road sign with that phrase ever again, though I have driven in or through Atlanta and other large southern cities before and since. People I have told the story to have posited whether the sign was a joke, a fluke or just a bad experiment by GaDOT. I don't know either, but that sign has stuck in my brain for ten years now. And the more I think about it, the more I like it and think it makes sense, especially now that I have read (listened to) The Secret. Yes, there is a lot of press about the Secret, Oprah et. al. throwing in their take on it, blah, blah, blah. That is why, when I saw it was available on NetLibrary, I had to download it and listen to it and judge for myself. All I can tell you is, I liked it so much I listened to the whole thing twice. Also, thinking about it will change everything you think about and every way you look at things. Like that Give Gap Take Gap sign. That is the Secret in an of itself. If you need to merge, take the gap. If you have merged, and are comfortable doing so, give a gap. It directly applies to driving, but it works in life too. If you really need something, ask for it, then look for it, then take it, and be thankful. If you are content and in a good position, give someone else a break (or a brake). Give Gap Take Gap. You will merge and it will all be okay. Now I say my new mantra whenever I am driving. And it works. Give Gap ... Take Gap
2 hours ago
1 comment:
I am going to have to do the Netlibray thing! I am still deep into "Confederacy of Dunces" right now though. What a sign! I have never seen one like that either. Once I saw a sign in southern WVA that said "Exit, no re-entry" and in some kind of brain fart panic I exited! I ended up in some tiny town sheepishly asking how to get back on the interstate!
I know of the book the Secret. Truthfully I thought that it sounded like a load of balony! Mostly because of Oprah endorsing it. I wasn't a big fan of hers before, and after reading "A Million Little Pieces" my opinion of her literary taste took plummeted. But I'll give it a try if you like it!
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