For the most part, I've only ever driven compact cars, which you can basically point at a parking place and they end up in it, perfectly centered. Maybe I've driven mid-sized cars a few times, many years ago. Now, as the owner of a land yacht, I'm going to have to learn how to park a large car, which is rather a different matter. So far, I've been getting it between the lines, although a lot closer to one line than the other. Since I have a temporary handicap parking permit, I can use the big spaces with lots of room around them; while the parking job is incompetent, it does not affect other drivers. However, I won't be able to justifiably use handicap parking for more than another month or so, although the permit is good till February. Because one of my pet peeves is people with large vehicles who can't park them properly and create problems for other drivers, I must become a competent large vehicle parker or be overcome with self-loathing.
Today is my first practice session. With Oz in the passenger seat, I drive to a supermarket parking lot (a place with tiny parking places which is closed on Sundays) and proceed to park. And check how I did, and then back out and park again. Once I can turn right into a parking place and end up basically in the middle of it, I practice turning left. And again. And then again.
"That's fine. I'm getting queasy. You can stop now," says Oz.
"Are you sure? I'm still a getting little too close on this side."
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm queasy from all this backing up!" he says.
"Really?" So his digestive system isn't galvanized after all. Heh.
Next week: Parallel parking. Oz may prefer to stand on the curb and watch. Or maybe hide his eyes and wail.
314 words | October 10, 2004 07:44 PM | Miss TraumaI started out driving a full sized chevy pickup. Now I drive a 2door coup. I feel like I should be towing a trailer when I parallel park, just to make it fair.
Posted by: Derek at October 24, 2004 05:42 AM