parking lot ettiquette

yesterday at noon, i pulled into the parking lot at the dry cleaners'. i was moving between my perch at the local coffee shop where i attempt to begin my work day unplugged. i spend a chunk of time in there reading without the distraction of screens, then move onto the library where i either sit in a herman miller mirra or in a saarinen swan chair and read more without the distraction of screens.

i pulled in behind a woman in a white car and before a man driving a big bully suv. i observed to myself, "what a terrible job!" [she did pulling into the spaces and] rolled my eyes. i was frustrated because it made my parking job a little tougher to be precise. as i jockeyed back and forth between my own lines, i heard a crunch on the right. the big bully suv driver slammed his driver side door into my passenger side -- our mirrors clashed.

he is my surgeon. i swiveled my head to get a look at the woman. she is my dean.

i held my tongue.

such is life in a small town.



it almost makes me wish i lived in ann arbor where people would weirdly compliment me on my parking acumen and leave it at that. almost.