Parking

How I know it's spring: when I got home last night from my parents' house, there was a car parked in my spot. Long time blog readers will know that this is a source of frustration for me, but it had subsided during the winter as my spot is not super close to any of the buildings.

As I pulled up, the car's reverse lights were on. Delighted, I assumed that they were about to move, so I just sat there for a minute. Alas, the car did not move at all, so I parked in a visitor parking spot and carried a few of my things into my apartment so that I could walk past the car and see if there were people in it.

Indeed, there were people in the car, and they were "parking." That's right--not only did they choose to park in my spot, but they were actually just using it as a make-out venue. I took my things inside, wondering if I had just mis-interpreted what was happening in the offending car. I went back out to my car to get the rest of my things. At that point, I got a much better look at what was going on in the car, and it was definitely some serious smooching.

I went back inside with my things, planning to brush my teeth and such in hopes that they would just leave and I could move my car. If they would not leave, I knew I was going to have to have a very awkward conversation. Some of my potential ideas for talking to them:

"I know that this is a great "parking" spot, but could you, uh, "park" somewhere else?"

"I really don't want to get towed out of visitor parking, and I think that there are lots of spaces in parks, or up at Squaw Peak where you could park..."

"This is sort of a wholesome parking spot, where I like to park my car and do nothing else. Could you help me keep it that way?"

"I think that the mall is closed. I bet you could park there and, uh, have all the time you need."

"Get a room."

After some apprehension, I ventured back outside to have what held the potential to be the most awkward conversation in the history of time. Would I knock on the window? Just stand in front of the car and wait for them to notice me?

Fortunately, the car was gone, and I happily moved my wholesome car into its spot. I'm really glad I didn't have to have that conversation, but I am proud of myself that I was actually going to go out there and do it.

I'm also really glad that because of the nature of the activities, I couldn't see the occupants' faces very well, so even if one or more of them are people that live in my ward, I didn't know, so there isn't going to be an awkward conversation on Sunday.