It was my fiction class on Wednesday night and my husband was out of town. Usually he drives me and picks me up from class, only this time I thought I could handle it on my own. I should mention something, we sold our BMW ( not economy friendly) and all we have is Matthews massive black chevy work truck. Its a beast!
My class is in Haight in residential San Francisco and my class starts at 7.30 prompt. I figured I'd get there an hour early, find a space and sit and study for class- I was late with my homework. Easy.
PIcture an 32 week pregnant lady behind wheel of Kick Ass Black Truck, it measures the length of two elephants, not to mention the elephant behind the wheel. A recipe for disaster? Hell no!
I drive around and around, the light really fading, negotiating pedestrians and small dogs and lamp posts and one way streets and hills. DId I mention those damn hills? It was a joke.
Forty five mins I drove in circles trying to squeeze my truck 'ass' into ridiculous space after another. It reminded me of Gracie who's thirteen months struggling to fit a triangle block into a circle hole. 'Honey? It ain't going to happen'. But still I tried, in front of bus queues of people laughing and in front of restaurants with faces pressed to the glass. I eventually found a spot I was already 10 minutes late and I didn't care. I am stubborn, I refuse to give up. I waddle up the 3 flights of stairs and a cup of calmomile tea later I felt the victory surge inside me. 'I did It'
Half an hour later, while doing a dialogue exercise, I ponder on just how easy that last space was. It was right down the street from class and I had been driving all over. I mentioned it to my teacher. 'Its not in front of the fire hydrant on Oak, is it?' she looked at me with pity.
'Fire Hydrant? We don't have them in Britain? What stupid rule is that?!!' I said my goodbyes and ran to the truck narrowly escaping a towing and pulled myself up into the seat ( there's no stepladder- a design fault)
I drove home cursing the stupid truck and let my nanny go home early and put myself to bed at 9 30. My hormones raging. I settled after an hour and after my husbands apologies and the promise of a family car before baby no 2 arrives. Hey at least you got out of your homework' he replied happily. He had a point.
Great mental picture :) I'm happy you didn't get towed and it probably helped that you were so pregnant.
Posted by: Ruth Taillon | 02/15/2010 at 12:10 AM
Love this post and so glad you got there in time to prevent the towing. I've never attempted to parallel park our truck!!See you soon, Mum
Posted by: Sally Dickinson | 02/16/2010 at 03:52 AM
Oh how awful! My husband drives a big black truck while I drive a small SUV but we've talked about downsizing to just one vehicle when we get a little older.
Posted by: Lori A. Moore | 02/26/2010 at 04:15 PM
Thanks Lori!! Great novel by the way sounds fascinating!
Posted by: Ruthlauramillar@gmail.com | 03/03/2010 at 11:20 PM
I'm so glad you got there in time to prevent the towing.
James Ferris
Posted by: forklift rental | 04/17/2010 at 12:14 AM
At least your truck could jump the curb and park in the restricted only for bottomless vehicles parking area.
Posted by: digger derrick trucks | 05/27/2010 at 02:24 PM
I like the part where you were "negotiating pedestrians and small dogs and lamp posts!" But at least you got there and back, and you were physically comfortable during the ride. How are you now? I hope you're now negotiating lanes with a smaller car.
Posted by: Duncan Moredock | 12/22/2011 at 06:34 AM