More bitching I’m afraid.

In the last week, I have paid over $60 for parking. Up until this week, I had been parking in the lot owned by my company. Parking illegally but morally. I have asked my company several times for a space, but have been passed over in favor of people who have worked 4 fewer years for the company and left soon after my rejection. I have asked again and the slots have been given out to other undeserving folks.

So, although I care very little for the laws of this city, I morally understand the imbalance of fairness my parking for free causes for those who must pay. Regardless, I parked illegally. I made sure on each occasion of this breach of the peace that my vehicle was blocking nothing, no legal spots, no door-opening space for said spots, no loading docks, no dumpster areas.

Despite my careful consideration, there are those who saw fit to have me ticketed (well within their rights, I do not blame them) and to leave gentle reminders on my windshield not to park there.

After one such reminder, I decided to curtail my law-breaking and see what opions lie out there for free parking. Finding none over the course of the week, I chose to once again risk ticketing and dispproving looks and park back where I had been (again, as conscientiously as possible.)

Scandal! In my place, on three occasions now, were two SUVs. Two clumsily parked, already oversized SUVs blocking doors, parked diagonally so to prevent trucks from loading and unloading into the futon store, and clearly owned by people who do not care a wink for others. Now, not only my chances of parking there with minor retribution, but the reputation my car had for not REALLY being obtrusive – they’re ruined. Once again, the careless actions of others create situations which I am powerless to change.

Sartre said it best: “Hell is other people.”