Parallel Panic
November 24th, 2009So, I’m 34 years old and I have no idea how to parallel park, ok? Whatever! It’s never been an issue for me until recently. When I took my driver’s ed. test, we were allowed to fail one thing and that was exactly what I did. Everyone told me how difficult it was to parallel park – even my driver’s ed. teacher. No one bothered to try to teach me and actually I was told that it wouldn’t really be an issue in my life, so I took the “F” in parallel parking, got my diver’s license and moved on with my life.
I know that you’re probably thinking that since I’m currently in the big city of Las Vegas that this parallel parking handicap finally struck me now. No! I just haven’t had the time to share my joyous experience until now. My parallel parking hell struck me in the grand old not so big town of East Stroudsburg, PA.
I was driving Arianna to an after school activity one day, which is on a one way street with only on street parking. It had never been an issue before because the street was not packed, but due to road construction every spot was filled except for one. What did that mean? I had to park in between two cars! OMG! I instantly broke out into a sweat! I put my blinker on and a car came up behind me. I assessed the situation looking desperately for another place to park. There were none. I looked in my mirror again and now there was a car, a bus and then multiple cars behind the bus, just waiting for me to park so they could get by. More sweat…
I rolled down my window when I saw a familiar Mom and reminded her of a conversation we once had about how I’d be screwed if I ever needed to parallel park. I begged her to do it for me. She smiled and said she’d talk me through it. Great! What a fantastic time to be talked through it when there’s a line of traffic behind me!
I pulled forward, put on my blinker, turned the wheel this way and that way and pulled forward and went in reverse and turned the wheel this way and that and pulled forward and went in reverse and turned the wheel this way and that………… for about 7 minutes……
One car drove on the sidewalk to get around me…… but in the end, my car was parked!!!
Yippee for me! Now I just need to find a parking garage near by so I never have to do that again. Hey, I tried it once. That was enough!
I love this
You are hysterical Jen……….hahahaha……….Parallel Parking is something that I am good at 
I have some strange things that I can do well and that is one of them 
Hahaha, I will teach you to be a pro if you want………….I have the key (hehe)
Hey
When you turn the wheel to the right and back up —– the back of the car will go right and when you turn the wheel to the left the car will go left. See how easy that is?
Thats why my car gets all those mysterious dents from the driving challenged in those parking situations. Duh
you still gotta love me
DADDY
No parallel parking in Vegas!
Hey Jen, of course you know I got a kick out of your story!! I can parallel park. I just can’t drive on fast highways. I know all about the sweating, and palpatations one can experience. I hate it. I really feel for you. So whenever you feel like that again,just think of me. You know I understand. Just don’t turn into me!!!