This is an ambush!
I know a bunch of people who have flat-out stopped watching or reading the news and I totally get it. There’s so much bad news out there and it really can be a drain on your psyche to take it all in. But I just can’t quit. In fact, I’m still thinking about this one news story that I saw the other day. It appeared after the devastation and destruction stories and before the feel-good story that capped off the evening news, but it managed to make me feel good, nonetheless. The footage showed a man standing on the sidewalk covered in greenery, looking through binoculars while the reporter described the scene. The man was actually a New Jersey police officer dressed as a shrub in an unusual tactic to nab distracted drivers. Talk about undercover work! I was once cast as a tree in an elementary school play — in a role created just for me, I might add — so I know that this is important work. The officer watched for drivers who were on their phones and then he radioed other officers who pulled over the perps. In one six-hour period, they caught 74 distracted drivers! Although this is very impressive, this story stood out to me for another reason: the use of the word “shrub.” I didn't expect it. It came out of nowhere. They could have simply said "bush," but they went a step further and used "shrub" instead. Words have power, people, and in this case, the word "shrub" had the power to make me laugh and repeat the word "shrub" again and again for the rest of the day. So, you’re probably wondering why I’m sharing this with you and, to be honest, I’m not really sure. I guess it could be a warning — don’t drive while you’re on your phone. You never know which plant might be taking notes. But I think the real point in relaying this is that, despite all the things that are going wrong in the world, it’s nice to know you can still be tickled by life’s random absurdities. And maybe that’s ultimately what gets us through.
Stay safe and healthy,
Tracy Jacobs
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