Parking RAGE!

Every Tuesday I am in charge of collecting Benjamin from my house and delivering him to badminton lessons at the Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club (VLTBC). I know, it sounds hoity-toity and it is hoity-toity but from today's experience in the parking lot I have figured out at least one of the members is an ass and real far from being hoity-toity. Or maybe he actually is the EPITOME of hoity-toitiness.

First, let me give you some backgound, there is well know VLTBC parking etiquette. The rule is if there are no spaces when you arrive you must travel to the end of the lot and circle the roundabout and wait on the right hand side for a space to clear up. EVERYONE or so I thought follows this rule (even if you are Mexican like me and this feels alien to you). Anyway this Tuesday I did the expected and waited on the right while another car pulled out of its spot that was meant to be for me when in comes a fancy little red Porsche and PULLS INTO MY SPOT!! and my first thought was: WHOA, HOW UNCANADIAN!!!

Anyway, I am LIVID as get out of my car (with my newly acquired I-am-a-total-bad-ass-and-can-take-you-down black eye) and politely say: "You are probably not familiar with the rules but I was waiting for this spot" and he answers: "I do not care (nice dude eh?), those rules do not work when the management does not enforce the other rule of not letting the non-members park here". "But I am a member" I said in total disbelief and his totally incredible rude response?....... "Like I said I do not care".

Back to the car I go while steaming and having visions of stabbing all of his tires so he ends up stranded. Or at least scratching my car key over the side of his precious little red car (now I sound like Carrie Underwood). You will ask, well, did you? Did you? Did you?!! No, I didn't, but I REALLY REALLY wanted to.

What is is about parking spots that makes one primitively territorial? What is it about a particular parking situation that makes us so upset? Is it about winning? Is it anger about the blatant disregard for the person's right to the spot? Why is this? Why does this make us so incredibly upset? If another lady grabs the last pair of shoes I wanted or dress I liked I do not have the same reaction so what is it about parking spots?

But when I think about it, it is not just parking lots, it is other situations that happen in cars too, people cutting in front of you or not allowing you into the cue also provoke extreme anger. Why haven't we evolved to tolerate this? Surely, higly evolved beings should be able to rationally look at the situation and think, noooo problem I am cool and calm, another parking spot will open up really soon so nooooo worries. But we don't, instead we become irrational cavemen and women thinking I will NEVER find another parking spot or I will NEVER get into the tunnel's cue and this is MY TERRITORY! MINE!!

Beware of who you cross though, because you never know where you might encounter this person again. Many years ago I was waiting for a long time at a gas station to pull into a spot and put gas in my car when a brown SUV pulls into my spot. I get out of the car and tell the man "I was waiting and it was my turn to pull in". He turns to me and says "Sorry but we are late for golf". I say: "Well you are going to have to move" and he says: "No I can't, we are late for golf" while he turns to his friend and they both start laughing. Unbelievable as***ole.

The very next day I show up at the UBC soccer camp to the kid's last day "World Cup" competition and THERE HE IS, THE A***OLE! and his kid and mine are on the same team. Now I should tell you that because the kids had ended up on the Mexico team my father had sent 7 Mexico team jerseys for the whole of Sebastian's team. Well, he sees me and I can tell he is trying to avoid eye contact at all cost. But I go right up to him and say: "I have Mexico jerseys for the whole team and I am going to give one to your son despite what you did yesterday because I am sure it is not his fault you are such an as***hole". Then I cooly turn around and walk away with my head held high. HA! I WIN!