There's one, there's one, there's one....

We went shopping on Friday. Not for Christmas gifts, but for a couple of gifts for ourselves. No, we didn't hit the stores at 4:00 am, but did make it to Target before 10:00 am. Just us and 4 million other people. Ed has a thing about parking. He circles trying to find the closest space. It's not like we couldn't use the exercise. But it's a challenge to him and when he finds one, he usually hoots "Ah, ha!!" And, yes, he's one of those people who will wait for the other person to put their goods into the car, get situated in the seat, put on their seat belt, fix the makeup, turn on the radio, yada, yada, yada - before they pull out. Now, I'll do this if there are absolutely no spaces available. But Ed will do it even if there is a space five spots further away!

I just don't get it.

My cousin was cruising through a shopping center in Tucson one holiday season and saw a spot. He raced towards it only to be beat out by someone coming the other direction. Frustrated, he rolled down his window, shook his fist, and shouted, "You and your family will live to regret this!!". I think he saw one too many Godfather flicks. After he said it, he realized how totally stupid it sounded so he rolled up the window and drove to the other side of the mall hoping not to run into her.

When I was about 11, my parents and I had been shopping and Dad was pulling out of the parking lot. Some really old guy (at least he looked old to me) was trying to pull in, but was heading for the wrong lane. He saw dad in his way and, rather than realizing he was on the wrong side, decided my dad was wrong. He yelled out his window, "You sure play dirty, fella!". That became a family joke for many years. Of course, my dad became that grumpy old driver in his later years. Somehow he didn't think the "joke" was so funny anymore.

I got the finger from a driver once during the holidays when I walked to my car loaded down with packages. He followed me very slowly so he could have my space. However, I was only unloading the packages so I could go back into the store for round 2. When I closed the trunk and headed back in, he gave me the finger and yelled something at me. Yes, and a Merry Christmas to you, too.

And my brother got his first, and possibly his only, ticket when he was "speeding" around the parking lot at the mall as he and my daughter were doing some last minute Christmas shopping. He was mortified, I thought it was hysterical.

Parking lots are such joys this time of year.