Cars That Take Two Spaces And Other Parking Snafu's

American culture is practically built around cars.  Henry Ford perfected mass production and our love affair was off and running.  Getting our driver's license is a milestone because it means freedom.  Freedon for cruising, dating, and going wherever we want without having to get a ride.  Getting our first car is another milestone.  At last, a vehicle that belongs to us and not one shared with an overprotective parent who gripes if the mirrors are moved and the radio is changed!  Our cars become extensions of our personalities with personalized plates, paint jobs, decals and accessories.  We love our cars like we love members of our families and some people treat their cars better than their family members!  All those places we like to go usually have parking lots and parking lots are where people can really behave badly.  One of the places I like to go has narrow parking places.  Basically, they're trying to cram in as many cars as possible in a fairly small lot, but if people pay attention and park carefully, this isn't a problem.  Instead, someone will just whip into a parking place willy nilly with their tires on or even over the line so the car parking next to them will have to either squeeze up next to them or park over the line in their space as well.  This causes a chain reaction down the row and the last space ends up being unusable because the first guy was too lazy to park correctly.  Plus, the problem isn't rectified when the offending car leaves since all the cars in the row are off kilter.  It just keeps happening over and over as new cars pull in and try to park.  What's up with the people who feel the need to park right in front of the door and block it while waiting for someone inside?  It apparently doesn't occur to them that they're impeding traffic, both the foot kind and the vehicular kind.  They can't pull into a space and drive to the door when their party comes outside?  Although not in a lot, street parking has its share of annoyances.  I hate driving down the street and encountering people who have parked on the wrong side.  In case you're wondering what that means, it's when you park on the left side of the street facing oncoming traffic.  People who do this have to cross traffic to park and again when they leave.  It happens all the time at the mailboxes in my neighborhood.  People think "Oh, I'm only going to be a minute!"  Unfortunately, the mailbox is a high traffic area and I feel as if I take my life in my hands whenever I pick up mail!  The worst parking offense is the people who take more than one space intentionally.  It always seems to happen when the lot is overflowing and everyone is driving around in circles looking for an empty spot.  And it's ALWAYS someone who drives a fancy schmancy vehicle that's been waxed pleather pants shiny with a lot of custom work thrown in.  Apparently, their car is too precious for them to park next to the mediocre vehicles owned by the rest of us and risk getting dinged.  I used to work with a woman who was like that.  She drove a cute little sporty BMW and took up two spots everywhere she went.  At the mall, the grocery store, her kid's school, the doctor's office, everywhere.  One year, during the Christmas shopping frenzy, she pulled her little parking trick in the parking garage at a major shopping center.  When she came back out to her car, to her horror, she discovered her cute little sporty BMW had been keyed.  Repeatedly.  Although I'm not condoning the vandalism, I am not ashamed to admit I felt a tiny spark of glee that she had gotten what she deserved.  Basically, if your car is too priceless for you to park it correctly, leave it at home.  No one is impressed with it or your pretentious behaviour.  Really.  People behaving badly.