Parking Wars at the Burlington Mall
January 26, 2011 at 9:30 am | Posted in Around Boston | 10 CommentsTags: Burlington Mall, Parking Lot, Parking War, Prius, Yuppies
Last weekend Andrew and I braved the crowds at the Burlington Mall to get some clothes for my brother’s Costa Rican wedding extravaganza. Parking was a nightmare, but circling around the lot for a spot was nothing compared to the parking war we unwittingly ignited when we left!
After an unsuccessful attempt to find white outfits (for us both) and metallic heels (just for me – Andrew wouldn’t wear metallic heels until at least May!), I put the car in reverse (yes, I drive when we are together… don’t ask…) and inched backward, only to find cars on both sides of us, blinkers-a-flashin’, waiting to take our spot.
I’m no mathematician, but even I know that one parking spot for two cars is a troublesome ratio.
Well that's not very polite!
We (well, actually, I) gingerly backed up, angled our car away from the parking-pariahs, and edged forward. One of the drivers – let’s call him overly-cocky-sedan-man (OCSM) – inched ahead of the other – let’s call her self-righteous-Prius-yuppie (SRPY) – to claim the spot.
But SRPY wasn’t having it. She parked her little eco-friendly wheels directly behind OCSM, got out of her car, thumped her fist on OCSM’s trunk, marched right up to his driver’s side window and SRPY let him have it!
We observed (in the rear view mirror) that OCSM didn’t even get out of his car during the tirade. SRPY’s rage was so intense he felt the need to keep a few inches of steel and a strong window pane between them for safety.
She continued raging against the machine (so to speak), throwing PG-13 hand gestures around, and when she finally finished, got back into her hybrid, slammed the door and floored it to the next row.
Andrew and I left the scene wondering what the correct course of action would be for OCSM. What would you have done? Proceed slightly-less-merrily on your way toward the siren call of suburban capitalism, blissfully assuming SRPY had gotten it out of her system? Move your car and dealt with the hassle of finding an alternate space for fear the incensed driver would return and write something tacky on your doors with her keys? Other? What’s a shopper to do?
~Sarah
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Either way, you definitely write down her license plate number
Comment by Alex— January 26, 2011 #
Very logical, Alex. These are the times I wish I carried around a security camera
Comment by Sarah— January 26, 2011 #
Ugh! Clearly the correct course of action is to never go to the Burlington Mall again! Every time I have to go there I say to myself “this is the last time……”
Comment by leah— January 26, 2011 #
And how!
Comment by Sarah— January 26, 2011 #
Anyone who thumped their fist on my car would find themselves thumped. Also, if you drive a Prius, shouldn’t you park in the back and walk? Drive less, walk more.
Comment by Jon— January 26, 2011 #
Ahh, yes – the logic argument. Well played, Jon, well played.
Comment by Sarah— January 26, 2011 #
i guess i’d remember the golden rule!
Comment by aimee— January 26, 2011 #
That a pale gal like me can rock white gold but barely pull off yellow gold? Hmmmm… interesting take on this, but I like that you’re hinting that I deserve gifts of jewelry!
Comment by Sarah— January 27, 2011 #
Who was there first? And who was larger? And who has friends in the Mafia? And who needs to be on calm-me-down pills? Of course, the logical thing to do was for srpy to park in a T-formation right behind other guy, lock her car and go about her business (after noting the license plate # of said squatter. She could also go online with that info, find out who the owner is and go TP his front yard. Or she could just not fly into a rage and find a different space knowing that she was the better person (but I like the TP idea better.).
Comment by Rhymes-with-Father-of-the-Bride— January 26, 2011 #
Amen, pops – I’m all about the TP plan!
Comment by Sarah— January 27, 2011 #