Parallel Parking and Common Courtesy

Now as many of you know, I am proud to be a born and bred Jersey Girl. Love the Springsteen Song and adore the Kevin Smith flick. One of the few skills that is not used very often in my neck of the 'burbs is parallel parking. I can do it, even with my mini-van I am capable. Anyone who has taken the road test in NJ to get their driver's license must pass this particular portion of the test. I spent hours practicing in front of my parents house with two garbage cans and their Old Buick (AKA Land Yacht).

Now here's the next part of the equation. Many of my local friends will attest to this. Picking up your child at the local elementary school is hell. Pure, unadulterated HELL. Why you ask? Parking is limited. Usually it's not a major issue, however with the snow still piled high and not going anywhere anytime soon, it is a bigger hassle than usual.

Now why am I talking about afterschool pick-ups and parallel parking? Here's why. Because of the parking conditions, in order to get a decent spot where walking to the school with my three year old is minimal I had to get there 45 minutes early. Now, in Dunellen, there is an ordinance where parking 50 feet from the corner is prohibited. They are even kind enough to mark it with a sign that says, "No Parking Here to Corner". Pretty simple to understand.

Here is where the parallel parking comes in, I know my limitations. My patience was running at a bare minimum today. Patience is a virtue, got that. Understand today is the first day of Lent and being kinder to my fellow man is needed. Again, I will reiterate, my patience level is LOW, like running on fumes low. I was dealing with my three year old in the car who wanted 'out'. There was TONS of space when I parked right at the "No Parking Here to Corner" sign. I guess-timated about four to five car lengths. A woman in a min-van older than mine (and that is saying A LOT) pulls up next to me. Then she honks and makes a vague hand gesture. She EXPECTED me to move down. She honked a second time and gives me a dirty look. Mind you, my son was playing with my keys so I was trying to locate them. Finally I get my car moved back and she pulls in (Poorly I might add). As she gets out, all I get is a dirty look, not a thank you, not a wave, not a smile.

To the lady with the green mini-van. Do what I did when I was 17, get a couple of garbage cans, put them at the curb and practice with your crappy car. Next time, I'm not moving when I am parked legally and you can't parallel park your crap-mobile.