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I enjoyed the bit about a 5-yr old with a cell phone--I'm sorry, but that is way too early for starting to use instant communication technology. My husband and I just rebelled against the entire thing and put our phone upstairs behind a closed door. We rarely answer it (it does have voice mail). I have a pet peeve about the way people just assume nowadays that everyone should be available at all times. Cell phone, fax, pager, phone, voice mail, email--if you don't respond within half a day, you are up the creek/in trouble. I sometimes let myself get caught up in the whole thing and then something in me screams--slow down. Everyone is in such a hurry.

To return to your post: road rage--I tried an experiment awhile ago. For three days as I drove around I tried to smile. If people cut in front of me, did something stupid, were talking on a cell phone, etc--I just smiled at them. I plastered a look on my face of understanding and compassion. It was really interesting. Sure, some people just continued on their merry way, oblivious--but you would be amazed at how many people that one minute earlier had a look of defiance on their face, suddenly melted into contrite apology. It made me wonder how much of the feeling that the world is going to hell in a rude-hand basket is actually just a matter of perception. Our own anger reflected into our view of others. Imagine the world as groups of people walking around being preemptive--protecting themselves with facades of anger--when really they'd just like to smile.

I am able to climb into this view of the world fully only when travelling. It always amazes me when you are travelling how nice people are to you. I've picked up an Australian hitchhiker in Alaska and become friends (inviting him to stay with my husband and I when he came to California), had a stranger give me $25 worth of Alaskan salmon on a whim in a Chicago airport, had deep conversations with an American I just met on a bus in Chile, met a German woman in Alaska who then came and stayed with us on her trip to Chile--a conversation I still remember. These people exist in this-town California, but I'd probably never even say hello. Three-quarters of my disorientation when returning home from travelling is shutting myself down from this over-friendliness and openness. It is somehow unacceptable to be that nice in everyday life. I met a woman in the park the other day that had that type of open friendliness and I just wanted to hug her and ask to her be my friend forever so I could absorb that openness.

Disc golf: http://www.tahoedisc.com/enter.htm is the easiest way to explain it--the site has photos. Disc golf is like regular golf except you play with frisbees and throw into baskets.
  ¶ 9:01 AM