My embarrassment has finally ebbed to the point that I think I can share this story. Actually, I want to put the story in writing before too much time has passed, before I forget any of the amazing details. It all started with Earth Day, just over a month ago now.
The company I work for has a tradition, for Earth Day, of encouraging employees to think about ways in which they can reduce their carbon footprint, whether at the office or at home. I think of myself as fairly 'green' already - I recycle, I rarely eat take-out with all those wasteful styrofoam containers, I drive a hybrid car, all that good stuff. So I wasn't really sure how much more I could do. But I'm always open to self-improvement, so I went to a few of the workshops at the office, and about a week before Earth Day, realized the answer was simple.
My apartment is only about a mile from the office, and yet I drive to and from work every day. After watching a presentation about how much of an impact can be made by people getting out of their cars - even cool new hybrid cars like mine - and choosing to walk, bike, or use public transportation, I was convinced. I would probably have to use the car in the winter, but for the rest of the spring and summer, at least, I would walk to work.
I shared my plan with my best friend at the office, Josh, who promptly teased me about becoming one of those women who wears tennis shoes and little white socks with their business suits as they walk to work. I laughed with him about what a silly look that is, and assured him there wouldn't be any fashion faux pas involved in my Earth Day activities. It's only a mile, after all, I can do it in heels. He smiled, and we went back to work.
Even though I made the decision a few days before, I figured I'd make a statement by starting my new routine on the morning of Earth Day. It was a Thursday this year. I set my alarm a bit earlier than normal, ate my usual healthy breakfast, and got out the door with plenty of time to get to the office. I chuckled as I looked at myself in the mirror before leaving, remembering my conversation with Josh. I have always been fairly fashion-conscious, and if I could say so myself, always looked good. Today I had chosen a white silk blouse, a flowing black skirt, and a red silk scarf and matching red pumps to add a little color. No way in hell would I repeat the foibles of my mom's generation and mix that outfit with bright white tennies!
I waved to a few neighbors as I walked to the end of my block, and before I knew it was on the main street which would take me the rest of the way to the office. I had to laugh at how short the trip really was, and how reliant I'd become on my car, to cover even a distance as short as this. And even though I was close to downtown and there was quite a bit of traffic, it was still a pleasant walk, walking past shops, bending down to pet a cute dog that was tied up outside a Starbucks, actually saying 'good morning' to people. In addition to my environmental accomplishment, I was filled with civic pride. Yeah, I admit it, I really was that full of myself.
Honk, honk. I looked to see who was driving by, maybe a coworker from the office? But the car sped off before I could see inside. Another block later, a different car, with a higher-pitched horn, beep beep beeeeep! This car slowed, began to pull over, but once again, before I could see inside, pulled off. Weird.
Then, just about a block from the office, a third car. This time, the man inside rolled down the window and smiled as he slowed and pulled over.
"Um, can I help you?"
"I don't know, honey, can you?"
"Look, I don't need a ride or anything, I'm really close to where I'm headed."
He winked, rolled his window back up, and pulled back into traffic, speeding away. Really weird.
Once in the office, I was quickly swamped with work, so didn't have time to mention to anyone my strange walk to work. The walk home, though, was even weirder. Three or four different cars, again with the same pattern of honking, pulling over to look at me, then speeding away. The same thing the next day, Friday, both morning and evening. Was it that unusual to see someone walking to work? Were they slowing down to take in the spectacle of my profoundly 'green' activities?
I quickly forgot about it over the weekend, as I got together with some old friends to hang out on Saturday and then visited my parents on Sunday, so it wasn't until Monday morning that I thought about it again. I was almost all the way to work when a blue sedan pulled over up the block from me, left the engine running, and rolled down the window just as I approached.
"Excuse me, miss?"
"Um, yes?"
I walked up to the open window and bent down to see in. A nice looking older gentleman was smiling back at me.
"I'm wondering if you can give me some directions?"
"Sure, what are you looking for?"
"Well, what can you show me?"
"Excuse me?"
Before he could answer, he looked up, became visibly nervous, and quickly sped away. I shook my head in wonder, glanced at my watch, realized I'd be late if I didn't hurry, and walked quickly the rest of the way to the office, stopping only to let a police car with sirens blazing go through an intersection in front of me.
Josh and I met for lunch that day, and I decided to share my strange story with him, thinking he'd get a laugh out of it at least, and maybe have some idea what was going on with all these strange drivers.
"So, Holly, what you're telling me is that as you walk down the street, a busy city street, dressed like you are right now, you were honked at several times, and a few cars even pulled over?"
"Yes, that's the gist of it. Weird, huh?"
"And you really don't see what's going on?"
"You mean you do? Please, explain it to me, I'm dying to know!"
"OK, I'll explain it to you. I don't want to embarrass you, but it's really pretty obvious to me what's going on here."
"Please, go ahead."
"Alright, Holly. Well, um, you're a very attractive young woman."
I blushed, averted my eyes for a moment before looking up at Josh again, "Thank you, Josh!" I'd always had a crush on him which I'd kept secret because of the whole co-worker dynamic. Was it possible he felt the same way?
"Long blonde hair, big green eyes, a great figure, and you're very well dressed."
"But that's just, I mean, that's just for work. What does that have to do with anything... not that I don't appreciate the compliment?"
Josh smiled, paused, then continued.
"Anyway, an attractive young woman - what are you, 24?"
"25, but again," I smiled and playfully touched him arm, "thanks for the compliment."
"OK, so work with me here. An attractive young woman, dressed up, walking alone on a busy city street."
