I had to stop at the credit union and deposit a check this afternoon after today's miserable baseball games. I thought about going to the branch at 46th and Guadalupe but then remembered the ATM machines outside the Co-op near the Law School. So, I headed over there. As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a car parked all caddy-wompus in front of the ATMs. It was blocking all three of the spaces directly in front of the ATMs. So, I pulled into the fourth spot, got my ATM card and the check, and headed to the machines. The driver of the car was standing tensely in front of the machine on the left. Thankfully, it was the machine on the right that I needed...the one that had a deposit slot. So, I put my card in and the woman starts talking a hundred miles a minute:
"I've been driving around trying to find a parking space for about 30 minutes and there's no parking anywhere! My daughter's race is right now! I don't know what I'm going to do!"
I realized she was talking about the track meet. Things were rather frantic around campus today. The baseball team was playing a double-header, students were taking finals, the University of Texas Press was having their big annual sale, and the UIL State Track and Field Championships were being held at Myers Stadium. Which meant that parking was at more of a premium than usual on any given Saturday.
So, I offered some sympathy and continued with my transaction. She continued:
"I finally found a spot but some miserable man behind me grabbed the space. He just backed into the space even though I found it first! I was so furious. I am having real road rage! I just couldn't believe he would do that to me. And, I'm not from around here and don't know where to park. And, my daughter's race is right now! I don't know how I'm going to make it. Do you think it's okay if I park here? Do you know what the fine is if I get a ticket?"
I noted that the sign said it was a tow-away zone and that it might be best to go ahead and park on the other side of IH-35 and walk to the stadium. I said as how it was pretty far from the track but that I really couldn't think of a better idea. Then, I offered to follow her there in my car and give her a ride back to Myers Stadium. She'd still have a rather long walk to the car after the meet but might get to see her daughter's race.
She seized on that idea and asked if I was sure...if it wouldn't be too far out of my way. I told her it wouldn't be a problem and then she told me to go first and she'd follow. So, I got in my car, pulled out, and headed back toward Disch-Falk. She followed. We turned east on 26th and I spied a nice parking spot about 1/2 block down the road on the right side of the street. I slowed down and pointed it out to her. She was so flustered, it took her a couple of tries to get the parallel parking thing right even though the spot was big enough for two cars. Poor thing! Anyway, she got parked, grabbed her stuff and we took off toward Myers Stadium. She thanked me profusely for helping her out:
"I really can't get over this. You are being so kind to me! And, when I get excited my Jamaican accent get so bad! What is your name?"
"Joanna."
"It's very nice to meet you. My name is Heather. I live in San Marcos. I really appreciate you giving me a ride. I really don't know what I would have done!"
So, I got to within about 1/2 block of the entrance to Myers Stadium and she said she hoped we'd run into each other again some day, jumped out of the car,and went flying off down the hill to the gate...her mood much improved from when I'd run into her 5 minutes earlier. I'm so glad I was able to help her out and I hope she got there in time to watch her daughter race. I have to say...I loved the name Heather. It was so improbable. What with the Jamaican accent and all.
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