As many of you may know, I have a love/hate relationship with my minivan. Until this week, however, I never realized the animosity it evoked in my fellow drivers. Aside from the evil looks I received from two separate pedestrians, I was also berated by a young hipster gentleman for making a left turn slightly after the light had changed to red (after patiently waiting my turn in the intersection to avoid oncoming traffic). Why do Bay Area drivers assume my name is Bitch, by the way?
After a week of such incidents, the experience culminated today as I waited in the passenger seat while my husband ran a quick errand. There I was enjoying the charming wit of a Nora Ephron memoir and the soothing sounds of a crying baby when I glanced up and noticed a man shouting at me. He was irate that my minivan was parked in a loading zone. Normally, I would have agreed with him and been equally appalled at my inconsideration had it not been for the following facts:
#1 This was Sunday. California drivers may legally park in a yellow loading zone on weekends and during non-business hours.
#2 There was an open parking spot directly in front of me. Rather than parking in this available and equally convenient spot, Mr. Friendly chose to double part next to it, block all traffic, and yell at me.
I would have affably moved the car had he simply asked. I told him as much (though I tried to disarm his temper with my charm, it came out rather sarcastic).
Is it truly the minivan? Do all drivers assume I'm some dimwitted, alcoholic soccer mom?
Well, as I drove around the block waiting for my husband to realize the car was not where he'd parked it, all the emotions I suppress on a daily basis in order to juggle three small kids and a career on no sleep suddenly convened and focused like the beam of a laser on that son-of-a-bitch who dared to assume that I was simply lazy and entitled and lounging in loading zones in my fancy minivan reading Nora Ephron on a Sunday afternoon.
The moral, if there is one, is lay off those mothers in their minivans.
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Just trying to picture you as dimwitted, alcoholic, or a soccer mom. Can't be done. Razor sharp, caffeine-fueled Bear... now that's another story. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the people who assume because I am in a minivan that I will take their crap! We have a double turn lane near our house that I drive almost everyday. Most of those idiots know that as soon as they turn they will have to immediately merge into my lane. It pisses me off when they are clearly behind me and should slow down to merge, they speed up and try to cut me off. Most of the time I will be the bigger the person but if it is a dude in a big truck I will stick to the person in front of me like glue. Then if I am really feeling pissy I will slow down and drive the speed limit in front of them! Don't mess with me and my minivan :)
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