Ask Uncle Fred #37
Gentle Readers,
I may have touched upon the topic of “situational awareness,” but thought it might be appropriate to elaborate. It’s basically being aware of what’s going on around you so that you neither harm nor hinder yourself or those around you. A couple of examples might be in order.
You are walking around London seeing the sights. You look to your left as you step off the curb to cross the street and get run over by a bus. They drive on the left over there, and every year, American tourists get run over looking the wrong way. That is a lack of situational awareness.
Years ago, I used to make short business trips with a friend who owned a vintage single-engine Cessna 172. To say it was short on creature comforts was an understatement. The lavatory consisted of a rusty Folgers coffee can behind the pilot’s seat. As we taxied down the grass runway before takeoff, I asked him if there was anything I could do to help. With dead seriousness, he said, “Yeah, watch out for buzzards.” That’s situational awareness.
In a previous life, I was really into underwater photography. My buddy and I were doing a wreck dive out in the Gulf of Mexico or America…..whatever. I was taking a picture of a huge Goliath Grouper. He was spear fishing and had just wounded a nice mangrove snapper, which was bleeding all over the place. Just then, I noticed a shadow pass overhead. It was, in fact, two large Bull sharks swimming erratically, pectoral fins pointed downward, in the classic attack posture. I calmly tapped my buddy on the shoulder and gave him the universal signal for “leave the damn fish and let’s get the hell out of here.” That’s situational awareness.
In croquet, situational awareness can take many forms, often involving two matches going on simultaneously on the same court, AKA double banking. Please be aware when the other match is waiting on you. Speed up play, less chatter, be ready to hit when it’s your turn, etc. Try not to put your mallet on the ground, back up to check the line, and then repeat again…. and again. I like the five-minute rule where when you come up on the other match you announce, “you’re on the clock.” If they haven’t scored in five minutes, they mark their balls, and you play through. If it’s a social game and you are re-directing, it’s a good idea to announce which hoop will be played next before you run the current hoop. A big faux pas is hitting your ball forcefully without warning the players in the other match that a ball might be headed their way.
Our courts at Sky Valley are bordered by the golf course’s ninth and eighteenth tee boxes. Situational awareness is being aware that a big banana slice could drop a golf ball right next to you. The good news is you have the option of keeping the ball, returning the ball, or tossing it into the lake. It kind of depends on the quality of the ball and if the golfer yelled “fore!”.
Signed,
Uncle Fred |