Jane Macdougall is a writer based in Vancouver.

To the people who get all in a knot when someone is a few minutes late: Get over yourself.

Quit being so critical when someone arrives slightly after the appointed time.

Five minutes late isn’t high-handed judgment or callous disregard. It’s the difference between an Amazon delivery van blocking the alleyway, or missing a crosswalk light or two. It used to simply be the difference between watches.

Perhaps we should all be like the Japanese, in whose language the explanation for lateness translates to “lateness happened to me.” So, even in a notably codified culture, there’s clemency for tardiness. (Please don’t spoil it for me if this isn’t an accurate translation.)

Heaven forbid you live on Vancouver’s North Shore and have to contend

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