I’m going to begin this column with two simple, everyday observations, both shaped by my experience as an older adult navigating our community. One happens behind the wheel. The other happens on foot.
Let’s start with driving.
My dry cleaner, bank, and coffee shop are all in the same strip mall. It’s a familiar spot, with parking on both sides of a narrow roadway running through the middle. I’m careful when backing out of a parking space before turning to leave, but even so, I often find myself hitting the brakes as a car speeds past behind me or a pedestrian suddenly appears in my path while I’m in reverse.