Dangerous to be alive: part II

I decided to go home for lunch today. I am financially strapped this month and cannot eat out - beside I already indulged myself in Starbucks for breakfast. Lunch is an important part of my day. I work with criminals all morning and all afternoon and lunch is my break to get away from the drama. Already today I've had a grown man cry, as his mother is in a cancer-induced coma and a young girl explain she will be "taking care of her pregnancy" and it's not a big deal - she's done it before. This is my hour in the middle of the day to decompress and regroup.
It's a nice day out and I'm in my own world - contemplating my bank account balance and how I will afford those shoes I want and a haircut this month. There is a myriad of ways to walk home and I try to shake it up every now and then. No matter the route I never cross Cascade at Platte on the south crosswalk. Drivers in the turn lane on Platte never pay attention to pedestrians and it is very dangerous - I've almost been hit and have seen a few close calls. As a pedestrian, knowing my right of way, I can become stubborn, "it is my turn to walk and you must yield to me." It isn't always the safest stance to take, as they're shielded by steel and me, only cotton and polyester. So, as fitting, today, I crossed Cascade at Platte on the north crosswalk - a much wiser choice - just as I stepped onto the sidewalk I hear a loud, "Hey! Watch out!" I look to see what is going on and watch as a bicyclist gets hit by a car, and lands on the hood. He appears to be moving. I call 911 and another witness pulls over and checks the bicyclist (everyone else, mind you, doesn't even slow down - busy lives to live and intersections to plow through). The bicyclist is okay - looks like a transient and explains he thinks he'll just go. The man driving the car is rattled but the two shake hands...no hard feelings. Police, fire engine, ambulance.... (alas, no single men who discover I am the one they've been waiting for)it is quite the scene. I fill out my witness statement and discover my own witness incompetencies and then that's it. I can go. Bicyclist will live. Other witness will go home and have a drink. Driver will not go back to work and call it a day.
I did make it home - I had just enough time to eat a peanut butter sandwhich and some cheez-ums, then back across the intersection, paying more attention to the cross-walk this time.
So much for my break from drama - so much for the regroup.
Folks - look both ways, it's dangerous to be alive.
-J