Human drama can be found in many places. I found some looking at the traffic in Gravois Bluffs Boulevard's two left-turn lanes leading to northbound Highway 141.

It was Thursday, warm for a December day. Christmas may be over, but the shopping surge continued at the Gravois Bluffs stores. Traffic was constantly going in and out, a good sign for retailers.

Judging by the car honks and occasional exasperated gesture, the Christmas Spirit pretty much evaporated on Dec. 26. People had things to do and they wanted to get going — Now! They had about 18 seconds with the green light, four with the yellow, and didn't want to waste any time.

In the two left-turn lanes, vehicles were stacked 20 deep. The drivers demonstrated their impatience by constantly inching forward in anticipation of the green arrows. Of course, they forgot they were at the mercy of cars in front of them.

The lights turned green, arrows pointed and traffic surged forward, except in one lane. For a half-second, the driver, fifth in line, must have been distracted or slow on the gas pedal. A chorus of short, loud honks galvanized him to action and he took off. The cars followed him so closely, it was a mass fender-bender just waiting to happen.

To the drivers' credit, it didn't. Both lanes were empty after the lights turned yellow, then red. Then, the lines started to form again.

Traffic flowed on 141. A pickup truck with a snow blade attached to the front headed south. Some people looked at it. Snow blade on a warm day? I wondered what this guy knew that the rest of us didn't.

There also were some pretty snazzy cars waiting in the lanes. A white Corvette, all low and sleek, stood out. A BMW sports car with its curves looked like it belonged in a Grand Prix race. I wonder if the owners had gone to Gravois Bluffs to shop for some bargains, using the savings to pay for their expensive rides.

Once again, the cars began to inch forward in anticipation of the light. Everybody was ready, then green arrows. No hesitation on anybody's part this time. Almost like a drill team, the cars made their turns in good order. Then, the traffic light turned yellow.

A driver of a black SUV should have stopped, but she was having no part of waiting. She hit the gas, going through the intersection on the yellow, making it legal by a split second before it went red. A small victory during a busy day.

Then a major impediment to the traffic showed up. An 18-wheeler, fresh from its deliveries, rumbled into the far left lane in the 12th spot.

Drivers stuck behind it first looked frustrated, then resigned. No way were they going to make the turn, not with this slow-moving beast grinding through its gears. Some of the motorists assessed the situation and quickly pulled into the second lane.

The lights turned green. Sure enough, the 18-wheeler, with a hiss of air brakes and the crunch of gears, slowly pulled into the intersection. The cars behind it had to stop and wait for the next light. Victims of interstate commerce.

The left-turn lines formed again. Drivers were eager to get on to their next stops. All eyes were on the traffic lights.