Monday, February 25, 2008

Broken Hearts and Parking Spots

DJ and I ran out to do a bit of grocery shopping. On our way into the store we saw a man leap (yes, leap) out of his car and run (yes, run) into the store. He left his car running and his female companion in the car. She was puffing away on a cigarette finicking with the radio.

Nothing really out of the ordinary...till you saw where and how they parked. He had backed into the spot...well, actually he had backed into two spots. The car was not a large car, but he still managed to back it diagonally across the line. But worse than taking up two spots, he was taking up two handicapped spots! I looked at his dash board and on his license plate: no handicapped sticker or permit.

DJ and I carried on. We bought our groceries and came out to find the same car idling in the handicap spots. Disgusting. Polluting our air and burning gas for nothing and parked in two handicapped spots.

A car then turned into the lane and slowed down and the elderly driver and I looked at each other and then both looked at the gal sitting there smoking, singing along to some heavy metal song. The elderly driver then noticed a spot about 6 spots up the row. His elderly passenger had pointed it out. As he drove by I noticed his handicap parking permit.

So, without thinking, I walked up to the idling, smoking, air polluting, head-banging, gal and motioned for her to roll down her window.

With all the politeness I could muster I asked, "Excuse me, it looks like you are taking up two handicapped spots, anyway you could straighten out your car, an elderly couple with a handicap parking permit could really use the second spot?"

I did not yell. I was not bitchy. I did not insist she move out of the spot. I only suggested she straighten up her car and allow "another" deserving car park next to her.

She rolled her eyes. Threw out her cigarette butt and rolled up the window.

I grunted under my breath and bit my tongue since my young DJ was beside me.

DJ looked at me and said, "Mommy why won't she fix her car?" I replied that I did not know. And DJ, smart little man, said, "Mommy she should really move her car, someone who has broken legs could park beside her and share the spot". I agreed. Then DJ said, "Are her legs broken?" I told my son that I did not know. And he said, "She is acting mean, maybe her heart is broken?"

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember seeing almost the same situation in a bank parking lot. The offending driver almost got into a fight with a concerned and vocal passerby and a fellow in a wheelchair.

You're braver than I. Good for you for saying something. Even if she didn't do anything about it.

Mamarazzi said...

VERY intuitive kiddo there!

and

You. Are. My. Hero.

i love that you spoke up, even if it id did fall on deaf ears!

Life As I Know It said...

Good for you for saying something, even if she didn't move the car.

I love the good natured perspective of kids. They really do think the best of people.

Don Mills Diva said...

Out of the mouths of babes! I think he's right.

InTheFastLane said...

Good for you for saying something and good for your son for knowing that some people just are not going to get it.

Janet said...

Smart little guy.

Amy W said...

Very smart and caring kid you have there!

And yes, you are brave for saying something!

Family Adventure said...

He said that? That is one BRIGHT kid you've got there.

As to the couple in the car...grr!

Heidi

Unknown said...

That was awesome that you said something!! Good for you, and DJ is very intuitive. I'm not sure I would have had the guts too....although I probably wouldn't have hesitated to call the police witnessing what you did and since the lady was still in the car. I used to work with a woman who had a prosthetic leg who DID have a handicap tag. She said she used to get dirty looks all the time, because wearing pants, you couldn't easily tell what her handicap was. She eventually got on her personalized license plate "one leg" which I thought was hilarious.

Caroline C. Bingham said...

what a sweet little boy! And way to show him how to be proactive.

Laura Brown said...

awww. That is a sweet story. Probably true too. You could have had the police come and they would have had a serious fine for parking there. I know it is a huge fine here in Ontario. Crazy to leave the car running all that time.

Mighty Morphin' Mama said...

Oh goodness, what a sweetie your kiddo is. Good for you for saying something, those people were way too rude.

Kat said...

You have a VERY smart little man. Wow! That last line says it all. Amazing what kids know.
I am so proud of you for going up and saying something. Situations like that make me SOOOO mad, but I don't always have the guts to say something. Good for you!!!!

ALF said...

that is the cutest thing I've ever heard. And, I hate that girl.

Robyn Jones said...

Awww. you have a very intuitive son there....
I think sometimes the world would be a much better place if it was ran by children.

3XMom said...

oh my gosh...he is so cute!

L said...

Talk about a smart kid!

Barrie said...

DJ--you have the BEST explanations!