U-Turn - Why not here?
During a lesson I asked Tony, a middle aged Italian, to do a U-Turn. As we all know the most difficult aspect of the U-Turn is to find a legal and safe location. We were in the left lane on a divided road. Suddenly Tony indicated left, as if to stop at the kerb. Stopping at the kerb he did.
I asked: "Tony, can you do a U-Turn from here?" Not only would the two lanes be too narrow to turn around (it would have ended in a three-point turn), but Tony also could not see that he would be driving on the wrong side of the road.
He answered: "Yes, why not here?"
I said: "Have a good look around at the big picture."
Tony scanned the road ahead, right and left. I don’t think he saw any picture, big or small.
Finally the penny seemed to drop.
"Of course, I can’t do it here", he said, preparing to pull away.
I was not so sure if he was thinking the same thing as I did, so I questioned him, why he could not do a U-Turn there.
"I so sorry", he announced, "I too close to bus stop".
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Lack of communication - another U-Turn story
A couple was driving overnight from Adelaide to Melbourne, a trip of about 8 hours. The wife had fallen asleep. After about four hours her husband did a U-Turn to enter a roadhouse and fill up with petrol.
"Can you drive for a while?" he asked his wife, waking her.
After refuelling and visiting the toilet, he slumped into the back seat and fell asleep before his wife returned from the ladies.
Of course she did not know about the U-Turn. She only got suspicious that something was wrong, when she realized they were again crossing the Murray River, an hour from their starting point, Adelaide.
A good example where a husband causes trouble not communicating with his wife.
The U - Turn Calamity (by Dieter Fischer)
(Here is above story as a poem-format)
Let me tell you a tale of a husband and wife
Who argued and fought for most of their life.
Insisting the other was wrong and they right,
Were driving Adelaide to Melbourne in the middle of the night.
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They quarreled and squabbled until she dropped off to retire
Thank goodness he said, peace, enjoy the ceasefire.
Until the gauge showed empty, his bladder ready to burst.,
He entered a roadhouse, but did a U-Turn first.
Hubby filled the tank, paid a visit to the loo,
Then woke his wife: I’m tired driving, what about you?
Waddling over to the toilet, she cried: "Oh, this one stinks!"
Before she got back, he was having his forty winks.
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Taking charge of the wheel along the highway she steered,
With an increased sensation that felt unreal, almost weird,
Should I ask hubby? Tell him how I feel, admit I’m at a loss?
No, why should I? He can’t help me, I’m now the boss.
For miles through the darkness they passed many a sign
Her blood-shot eyes missed them, glued to the dotted white line.
I shouldn’t be driving. She knew it ain’t safe,
Don’t show any weakness, we women are brave.
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Where are we? Hubby awoke, as they approached a bridge.
We’re crossing a river and I don’t know which.
For the first time in hours, the wife’s eyes opened, what worry,
She shouted: "The sign says, were crossing the Murray!"
It’s your fault, you donkey, tell me when you turn with a U.
You twit, why didn’t you ask me? I could have told you, I knew.
You idiot expect me to read your b. so and so mind!
Words flying to and fro sounded not very kind.
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It goes to show, that silence, arguments, struggle and strife,
Create a barrier between people, not just a husband and wife.
Learn to respect, to forgive, speak your mind from the heart,
You both move forward, not finish right back at the start.