Potluck: Parking

It was a Thursday. March 12, 2009 to be exact. I had traveled to the Dahlia Lounge to purchase expensive cookies for the development team deploying the Previous Debt Discharge Status; don't ask. Meanwhile, I had no idea that the UCONN - Syracuse game was about to begin. I arrived back at my office and sat in my chair to do some work. It would be another 2.5 hours before I left.

What does this have to do with parking? Absolutely nothing. Because this story isn't about me...

Joseph fed the pups at about the time I was visiting Dahlia lounge - or so I'd surmise - and readied to depart the house. He started up the Subaru Forester and traveled to Capitol Hill for a drink at Purr.

As is common on Thursdays, Capitol Hill was rather busy. That means little to no parking. And, in fact, it took Joseph a number of circles around the neighborhood to find a spot. He found a spot almost directly in front of the bar and made the motion to pull in, when he noticed a young woman on her cell phone standing in the spot. Joseph rolled down the window and said 'Excuse me' somewhat loudly. But the young woman did not move. Again, he tried - a bit more loudly - to convince the woman to move. But he got no response.

For those of you who don't know Joseph as well as I, let's just say that he doesn't mind a confrontation, especially when there's principle involved. And so, Joseph commenced pulling into the spot. The young woman, taken aback by the fact that someone would do this, stared with malice into the Forester at Joseph. But she didn't move. Instead, she let fly a fist - all the while spewing a plethora of four-letter words - and came down on the hood with a thud. Joseph stopped the car. The woman then leaned on the hood of the Forester, essentially daring Joseph to do anything more.

Not a good idea.

Joseph suggested vehemently that the woman move. She didn't. So, he moved her. Ever so slowly - and gently - he inched the car forward. And in the end, she was no match for a multi-ton Subaru. Joseph successfully parked.

But that wasn't the end. Oh no...

Instead of leaving it at that, the woman called the police.

Joseph relates that a number of other parking spots opened in the time that it took for the police to arrive. And the woman's friend still hadn't arrived.

The police arrived and approached Joseph. They asked who called and what the problem was. Joseph intelligently decided to allow the woman to do the talking. The cops listened as the woman spoke. And when she finished her rant, they offered some advice. 'Ma'am, it's not a good idea to stand in front of a moving car.' As you can imagine, she did not want to hear that advice. She therefore decided to speak to the cops in a language she thought they might understand. 'What RCW states that I can't stand in the road and save the spot for my friend?'

Bad move, lady. For those of you who don't know, RCW stands for Revised Code of Washington. It is the compilation of all permanent laws now in force in the state of Washington. Yes, she was trying to tell them how to do their job.

The cops quickly grew tired of this young woman and asked, 'Ma'am, are you hurt?' 'No' she whined. They turned to Joseph and asked him if there was any damage to the car. He responded that there wasn't. The cops said it was a wash and were ready to have Joseph and the young woman go their respective ways.

But Joseph had one more question. 'Can I get this lady's name and number? I'm concerned that something might be wrong with my car when I come out of Purr.' The young woman responded that she wasn't that type of person. And the cops chimed in saying that they didn't think she would do such a thing. Joseph responded that he didn't think she would stand in front of a moving car either.

With that, the young woman stalked away - her friend having finally arrived - and left Joseph and the cops to depart the scene.

As it turned out, there was no damage to the car when we drove home that night. But a crazy lady had left her mark.