PARKING

We have a problem at The Home. I have no idea what the situation was when the buildings were built, this may not have been an issue at the time, but it is now. There is not enough parking for the residents. The last building is only eleven years old, so I assume someone was just not thinking ahead — but who knows things may have changed. Maybe we are just healthier than eleven years ago. Maybe we are driving longer. Maybe there are just more of us with cars. Who knows?

The plot is small. There were eight spaces set aside for visitors, care givers and anyone else who happens on the property. All eight are now needed for residents. A decision has been made to restrict what on site parking we have for residents only. Those not in the garage are demanding it. The next problem is that there is no on street parking. There is a large restaurant with parking across the street. Some park there, but they are taking their lives in their hands to cross the street. When parking there one crosses illegally on a curve. Cars fly around that curve like it was a raceway. But some guests do it anyway. It is assumed they are younger and faster than our residents.

There is a small strip mall across from my building. Some park there, but very few. They have tow away signs everywhere. People are told to park in a lot owned by the school district across the street at the back of the property. That means guests have to walk a half a block through our property to get to the front doors were they can be buzzed into the building. This doesn’t affect me as I am on that far end and the only people coming to visit me call me on the my cell when they arrive and I let them in the back door. They park there anyway as it is the closest for them.

This is all well and good, but management is establishing the change today and plan to tow away cars immediately. They are installing a limited number of signs to mark the change, but it is possible these signs can be blocked. It seems it would have been better to put a sign at each parking space just like is done for disabled parking (I suspect I screwed up the proper terminology for that space).

This is being added after a car was towed away yesterday. It could not have happened to a more volatile, angry, vocal and hostile resident whose guest was her niece. The situation really is different. The niece was parked illegally and blocking a residents car. There was a sign posted. Our man did everything he could to find out who the driver was or whom they were visiting. No one recognized the car. The car had sat there about two hours before it was towed. It cost the offender $125 to get the car out. Not bad really, but certainly annoying. The impound lot of the towing company is only three blocks away.

The yelling and screaming has only just begun. Maria is not to be tangled with lightly. She has already made plenty of noise and it will go one for weeks. It does not matter that the car was parked illegally, no car has ever been towed before and this was Marias family. There will be hell to pay.

I just hope the man who made the call has tough skin. He will now have a permanent enemy. Forgiveness it not a part of Marias life.