[Michael.SF.]

Some years ago I had a Ford Flex, I was parallel parking in front of a cafe with outdoor seating. The space was tight but I managed to get, with some added effort and a couple of back and forth’s to get close enough to the curb. I did so w/o touching either car. Two women at a table watched the whole thing with some intense interest. As I got one said to me in an accusatory tone

“I can’t believe you did that “
Did what?
“ You almost hit my car”
‘but I didn’t did I?
How am I going to get out?
I noticed they were still eating. “I’ll be gone before you are finished”

[rockrr]

In the early 90’s I was going to night school and working full time driving hoopie trucks (single axle, 24 foot box vans, manual trans). One day I offered to transport some furniture for a friend using my truck. These were the largest trucks one could drive without needing a CDL (I don’t know if this is still the case).

We got into town and decided to grab some lunch. Naturally, parking choices were limited. The only space anywhere near the restaurant required me to parallel park - and it was on a slight grade.

My passenger was skeptical - she was the type who avoided parallel parking like the plague. I pulled it off in one try leaving my passenger and several restaurant patrons amazed. I explained to her that my delivery route was downtown Seattle where you had to know where all four corners of your vehicle were at all times if you wanted to survive.