A few minutes ago I was attempting to parallel park on a not very busy side street. I knew the spot was big enough, and I’m a decent parallel parker after many years of practice. BUT, I’ve also been having a bit of a streak of bad luck lately with minor fender benders and car dings (although nothing that has actually caused damage, fortunately), but I’ve started to doubt my perception, or my ability to focus or whatever.

So I’m trying to slide into this spot, (its a left hand side spot) and suddenly there are a ton of cars on the street and I become paranoid that if I do gently tap the car behind me, someone will see it and yell at me or something, so I’m inching, inching, inching into this spot. And I have this random thought that “wouldn’t it be nice if one of the people driving by were to tell me if i had space or not.” And I look out the right side of the car toward the street,  and I see a car with these two (adorable) young men in it and when they catch my eye they indicate that I have plenty of room to back up. I smile and back up more quickly and they stay there directing me back into the spot until I’m fully parked and then they smile, give a thumbs up and drive on.

It was such a nice thing to do and totally put a smile on my face.  And I will now be looking for the chance to pay that favor forward.