Is This You?

Rules vs Suggestions

I drive a pickup. Not a huge pickup. Not like the ones I often see trying to get into a regular-size parking place in a parking lot. I watch with a grin at someone trying to get a tank-size truck into a VW Bug-size spot. I usually say out loud, “Next time get the big truck!” That makes me both laugh and feel sorry for the driver. Then of course I wonder if they gave thoughts to parking while they were at the car dealership oohing and awwing at all the bells and whistles that baby had as they stood next to it, on tiptoes trying to take a peek inside the bed. Where the sides are at least six to seven feet above the ground. No, my truck is not a big truck. But. Yes, a short-bedded “but.” I, on rare occasions, have a bit of trouble fitting my truck into those smaller than “boat sized cars” parking spots of the 1970’s.

I was lucky to have a farmer as my other half. He could park things that I could only see getting into if they were pull-through spots. More so, he took the time to teach me a few tricks of that parking trade. Happily I can back up to and hook up a trailer, take it to the dump, clean it out and pull back into the yard. Then back that baby in its hidey hole without even thinking about hitting the two buildings it goes in between. Then there are those smaller parking spots…

Now I have a question to ask when I park, get out to see I am one way too far to the left or right, or maybe even straddling the parking lot lines. Are those lines a suggestion, or are they a rule. And if they are a rule, are they hard-and-fast rules? Or are they just kind of suggested rules? Like the yellow diagonal diamond-shaped highway signs with a “suggested” speed of forty mph. There are some of those in a farming community between where I live and a town to the north. Where a farm/ranch is on both sides of the road and the signs have a pictorial embossed farmer on tractors with a “suggested” and cautionary speed posted below or on them.

Wait. Wait. While I am here let me just say, “Who’s interpretation is the farmer on those signs!” I’ve never seen a farmer sit that straight up—and I don’t even want to discuss that hat! Moving on…

I know how to get my truck into a small space. But where there are fifty spaces, do we have to pull into the exact middle of what someone, probably in the middle of a sultry summer night, painted on the asphalt? What is the difference between yellow lines in a parking lot and white lines. I know the blue lines. Because of my MS I have what I call my “Hobble Zone” placard. I happily only use it when I really need it, but I know that the blue lines outline my Hobble Zone.

I also know there are parking lot security officers. Will they ticket me if I miss the “zone” by a few inches, or feet? Is there a “fudge” measurement that we are allowed? How do we find out what the fudge line rules are? As we boomers all get a titch into the latter years, we may miss the lines in the parking lot. But for those who would want to cuss and discuss it with us? Well. WE have a few suggestions for you about rules.

How about when going camping and you pull into the grocery store to “stock up” for that weekend? A truck and camper, or motorhome with side-by-side, boat or another toy behind on a trailer. They pull horizontally in taking up maybe six to eight parking spots. Which, come on now, we all have done. Lord knows we have to take everything with us to make the outdoor camping trip as rustic as staying in a five-star resort! Again, moving on.

Is it a rule to park precisely centered in measured parking spots? I vote that they are actually suggestions. Just like going into that grocery store, shopping for your camping trip. Spotting two packages of cupcakes! Side-by-side. One lists no fat, sugar, gluten, dairy, or nuts. The other piled high with red-white-and-blue-swirled fluffy frosting on top of deep dark chocolate cakes. Offering just a “few” camping calories dripping off the little colorful fluted papers. making your lips smack. A rule or suggestion?

GET the dream cupcakes. Leave the sawdust cupcakes in—the dust!

Trina lives in Diamond Valley, north of Eureka, Nevada. She loves to hear from readers. Email her at [email protected]

Really!