A Morning Thought on a Busy Road
This morning, during rush hour on one of Long Island’s busiest roads, my attention was fixed on the traffic ahead-as it always is when the pace is fast and unpredictable. Commuters were doing what they do best: rushing, weaving, focusing intensely on getting to work safely and on time.
That’s when I noticed it-a small squirrel darting toward the road, determined to make it to the other side. For a brief moment, it felt like time slowed. But reality caught up quickly. Two cars in front of me struck the poor animal before it could complete its crossing.
As I continued driving, I couldn’t help but reflect on what had just happened before my eyes. Why would the squirrel attempt to cross such a dangerous road at that exact moment? Rush hour is chaotic even for us-people with the awareness and fear of how dangerous traffic can be. Many drivers are already on edge, cautious of reckless behavior from others on the road. Most of us wouldn’t dare take such a risk on foot, let alone in the middle of fast-moving traffic.
Of course, the squirrel doesn’t have the capacity to understand what a vehicle traveling at 70 or 75 miles per hour truly means. It doesn’t recognize the scale of danger the way we do. It simply acts on instinct-moving toward its goal without the ability to weigh the consequences.
Still, witnessing that moment lingered with me longer than I expected. It served as a reminder of how different our worlds can be, even when we share the same space. We move through our routines, focused on our responsibilities and concerns, while small creatures navigate that same environment in ways we can hardly comprehend.
It was just a brief moment during a routine commute-but one that stayed with me enough to write it down and share.
And for all I know, that poor animal was also commuting to work, it just so happened that it couldn't make it.
Pal Ronnie
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