Interesting stop signs are hard to spot. You have to look carefully before noticing something’s different. But you will never see a go stop sign. This piece was inspired by something drivers here in the Ocean State do that I call a tag team stop. When someone takes their turn at a four way stop, the driver behind them goes through with them as though they are connected, in order to avoid the wait. When I first moved here I was really shocked by this sneaky move. Then I got mad and started honking at each offender. If you do this and you hear someone honking, it’s probably me.

The green colors look more intense with red quilting lines.

Red and green intensify each other, and it makes me think of the tension between NO and YES. It’s hard to say NO, so I say YES and end up doing things I don’t want to do. I am getting better about saying NO now that I am older and more ornery. This is something good about getting old.

It goes beyond the annoying. When I was a child, being compliant was valued. I did what I was told, was cooperative, kind to others. I was, for the most part, a good child. As I got older it was hard to know where the line was between being my own self and being nice. Somehow I picked up that kindness was more important than telling the truth. I have a moment from college frozen in my brain, of french kissing a date in order to avoid rejecting him. I felt nauseas for months. In the end I guess it was an important early lesson learned.

Go stops are tricky. I acknowledge them and choose red or green. And I try to be honest, at least with myself.

Go Stop