They're your surroundings, be aware of them.

A huge gripe I have is when people are so distracted by pretty things and flashing lights, they stop being aware of the life around them.

At the grocery, these people block aisles while chatting with Mrs. Potts about the latest Lutheran Lasagna. Or they back out of a driveway into traffic, while putting on lipstick, while calling their office about the Conrack account. Or walking in the mall, as if an extra in Day of the Dead, and then stopping short, stepping in front of you, to look at the new potholders in the window at Kitchens Etc.

I admit to being focused, as well as easily distracted. If I ever do this, ever, I apologize profusely and feel remorse. The people I am talking about look at you like its your fault they did not signal their intentions.

Yesterday I was at Lexington's Independence Day Festival (I will not go into why it was on the third). I was on my inline skates, RollerBlade Brand, as is a tradition with me. I had such a problem with people stopping short. I only slammed lightly into the back of one man. To whom I immediately apologized and explained I was on wheels. He was amused. He did not seem to mind the body slam either. Well it was more an epidermis bender, than anything. Neither of us even joggled. Some people went out of their way to make space for me. That was warmly encouraged, even though I am an expert crowd negotiator on the 'blades. Those latter people were kind of a pedestrian version of the those that drive on the left side of the road if there is a line of parked cars on the right. - see driving gripes list for that.