As I was writing a novel inspired by traffic I found myself staring at traffic signs to contemplate what they are telling us. What is it that they communicate on a subconscious level. How do all this traffic signs affect us psychologically? I must confess that the Stop sign always made me think of the “Stop In The Name Of Love” Song by The Supremes. Even before I started writing Take The Highway. Does that make me weird? I don’t know. Watch this video first. Then read the rest of the blog post.

There is this one particular stop sign in my neighborhood that has a large boulder situated right in front of it. It is as if it has a stool that invites you to stand on and stare right at the traffic sign. On one lovely day, while taking a stroll I decided to accept the invitation. I stared, and stared and stared.

Suddenly out of nowhere each letter in the sign developed a pair of hands. That were signaling the universal stop gesture. The letters started singing:

Stop in the name of love.

Before you break my heart

And then the P developed a face and started singing the lyrics:

Baby, baby
I’m aware of where you go

The S,T and O joined in and sang:

Think it over
Think it over

All the letters together sang:

Stop! in the name of love

Before you break my heart

And then the P got bigger and bigger. Taking the lead.

I’ve known of your
Your secluded nights
I’ve even seen her
Maybe once or twice

And then suddenly the music stopped and everything went back to normal. I got down from the boulder and went back home.

You can watch the original Stop In The Name of Love by The Supremes here.