Adulting for the win

[klwilliams]

This past weekend I managed something I had done for at least a decade: I parallel parked my car in one (fairly) smooth move. Yes, you are saying, everyone can do that. What's your point? My point is that I have lived in Sunnyvale, California for a half my life, and Sunnyvale is full of parking lots. Stores have room for cars to park in nice even parking spaces. We have very few apartment buildings, and our downtown streets have large parking structures right there. Parking is simple and ample. I haven't needed to parallel park in Sunnyvale ever.

I have terrible depth perception. This, with the lack of practice, has made me scared of even trying to parallel park. I'd almost completely given up. But, this last weekend, Chaz was out of town at WorldCon, so I decided I needed to revert to someone who could live alone and be powerful and capable and all that. I went to a friend's party on Saturday, and he lives in a condo complex that only has street parking. I pulled up next to a car that was parked ahead of the space I wanted, and told myself, "Self, you know the geometry involved. You know how to angle your car in the right way to make this an easy task." So I did. Just like all the big people do. I'm a big kid now.

Comments

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

I did an excellent job parallel parking during my driving test.

Then I didn't use that skill again for about eight years, and it all went away. I still screw it up these days.

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

Yay, you!

I gave myself the same talk Saturday when two domestic crises occurred simutaneously, one with the air conditioner and the other with the overhead kitchen ceiling light.

El V is in Cuba . . . the deal is in emergencies then I'm supposed to call Ben to take care of the emergency and me.

But I took care of it myself.

Actually, really, I just paid some money to a competent person to fix the problems.

Love, C.

[acanthusleaf.livejournal.com]

Hooray for re-convincing yourself of your competence!

[owlfish]

Well done!

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Actually, really, I just paid some money to a competent person to fix the problems.

Which counts as you dealing with the emergency yourself. Absolutely, and well done.

[rustmon.livejournal.com]

Woot!

[darcyjavanne.livejournal.com]

Congrats! I am the world's worst parallel parker. Humiliatingly bad at it, despite decades of practice with parallel parking.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

Brava!!

I now drive past spots I once would have been able to maneuver into. I think I lost faith that I could manage it.

[evil-macaroni.livejournal.com]

Huzzah!

[madrobins]

BRAVA!

(Also, thanks for the loan of the Chaz over the weekend. He was a swell housemate.)