Dear Gabbie,

Introducing “Dear Gabbie,”  a new column written with the simple hope of bringing a few smiles to your day. Just a reminder, Gabbie’s advice is not meant to replace the advice of professionals … especially your mom!

Dear Gabbie,

For the third time this week, I’ve been stuck behind a car on North Territorial that never goes faster than 35 miles per hour when the speed limit is 50. Some of us have a job to get to and are docked pay when we’re late. Maybe you can help bring awareness to this problem. 

Dear Terri Torial,

UGH! Haven’t we ALL been there? That road is a real challenge, with all of the curves, and hills, and … ummm, WAIT. Hold on a second. Have you ever slowed down yourself … just a bit … to take in and appreciate all of the winding curves and gentle hills (… and sparkling lakes and vintage barns and …)?

Maybe it’s time to set that alarm five minutes earlier (or go a little crazy and move it back six minutes or more). Then, as you’re leaving for work, get ready to enjoy that extra time you banked. Jump in your car, put on an audio book (CADL, I’m lookin’ at you) or turn on some of your favorite music (anything but “Fast Car”). Then, take a deep breath and embrace your zen-filled drive to work. No hurry. No docked pay. All peace.

So, next time you get behind Mr. or Mrs. Sloth, and you can’t safely pass, take another deep breath, turn up the music, and just pretend it’s your sweet grandma driving that slow car. Yep, that’s good ol’ granny, hangin’ on to her independence like a boss and driving as safely as she can. You can’t be frustrated with THAT, can you? (I think my blood pressure went down just writing that.)

It’s time to slow down and smell the roses… even if it is only the car’s air freshener!

Enjoy every mile!

Gabbie

Have a question for Gabbie? Email it to stockbridgecommunitynews@gmail.com. Place “Dear Gabbie” in the Subject line of your email.