As I was walking to work recently, heading down Walnut [Street] by the parking decks, a car … pulled into the intersection from Rankin Street and started to turn up Walnut, [heading] the wrong way on a one-way street. Having seen plenty of tourists and lost drivers attempt to navigate downtown, I let [the driver] know that it’s a one-way. He proceeded to give me a most sarcastic thumbs-up and mouth, “Oh, thank you,” as he continued to turn up the wrong way—as if to say, “Yeah, I know, and you’re an idiot.”
As someone who lives and works downtown, I take extreme offense to his disregard for laws, and rudeness to someone offering help. Apparently the laws do not apply to this guy. Apparently the idea of heading up Hiawassee to Haywood and around the Civic Center to Walnut Street would have taken a precious 30 seconds out of his day. And then, to be a jerk when someone simply tries to help him with directions.
I noticed the car had N.C. plates, … and I’m assuming he’s a local (not to mention the Subaru Outback he drives—a sure sign of Asheville). If he is local, then he probably believes in karma, maybe even some voodoo dolls and curses. So, I rest assured that he will get what’s coming to him soon enough.
