Parking Structure Pariah

Wait, don't leave yet; there's something I need to talk to you about. I know your time is important so I'll be quick, I promise.

I saw you the other day, in the parking structure; in fact, you might recognize me as I was the one right behind you in line. Then again, you probably didn't notice me because you were so focused on finding the perfect parking spot. That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about.

I was wondering if you could explain to me why you felt it was necessary to stop in the middle of the aisle and wait for literally 10 minutes for the family of five to load in their shopping bags, strollers, and children into their minivan just so you could snag their parking spot. I'll admit it, it was a great spot: ground level, by the walkway, on the movie theater side - doesn't get much nicer than that - however, we were in a multi-leveled parking structure with elevators, multiple stairways, wheelchair access, and all the rest, so really, any spot would have sufficed, right? In fact, if you actually paid attention to your surroundings, you would have seen that the "Available Spaces" counter to your right was informing you there were 150 prime spots available just up on the next level. That's a lot of G.D. parking. Now, I know you think that your time is more valuable than everyone else's. I know that you think you deserved that spot, and that's why you chose to wait for it.  Let's be realistic though, it's not and you don't.

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that moving on and finding a different spot might, perhaps, cost a little more energy on your part. You might end up on the freeway side and have to walk all the way across the giant parking lot to a stairway or one of the elevators on the other side of the structure, and Heaven forbid you have to walk those additional 100 steps. Because that's the last thing you need - more walking.

Here's the deal though, I don't really even care if you want to wait it out for that prime ground-level spot. Maybe you're listening to a really good song or having a conversation with someone on the phone. Maybe you just enjoy being in your car. That's great. I, however, choose not to stay in my car when I don't have to, which is why I am angered that you managed to block the aisle just enough so that no other cars could get through. You can wait all you want for the best space possible as long as your little heart desires if you can let others get by you. As a result of your laziness and ignorance though, the entrances and exits of the whole north side of the parking structure were jammed, and those of us directly in line behind you were trapped without an escape, and that's just plain rude.

Oh what's that, Parking Structure Pariah? You're wondering if I'm done so that you can go and have a sleepover at Billy's house? Forget about it! Until you can learn proper parking etiquette, you're grounded. Now, go to your room!