Exercising courtesy

As much as I criticize Seattle for being an asshole when it comes to certain aspects of its 'personality,' I have recently discovered a more endearing quality about its city folk. Having gone jogging in my neighborhood quite a bit in the past week and a half, I have observed something very odd and refreshing that is unlike any other city I've been thus far. Generally (anywhere), people drive with a sense of manic eagerness to get to their destination. You have to be on guard and protect yourself from getting run over, maimed by an oversized powerful scrap of metal. Not so here.

While the slow driving here can certainly push my impatient buttons, it also has its perks.....take for instance, as a jogger/runner. At first, I thought it was just a lucky break when I was waiting to cross a moderately busy street with an ongoing influx of cars going by in both directions....and they STOPPED to let me cross. (And there was no crosswalk, stop sign, cop around,etc. to account for this unusual behavior!) Maybe the timing was just right, that I caught them at a generous, courteous moment. Except it kept happening. Today and yesterday. I almost felt guilty for these people having stopped in their tracks for me! It's all so new to me. I smiled and waved with appreciation, of course.

Do Seattleites have an uncharacteristic respect for those who exercise or something? Regardless, I'm impressed with their sense of exercise courtesy....