Parking at my vet’s office can be tricky. In spite of the lack of cars in the picture above, there are usually few spaces available in front of the clinic and there is no parking lot. The street in front used to have two lanes on either side, so, if someone decided to parallel park, they didn’t block traffic.
Last year the city redesigned the traffic flow. Now, there is only one lane on either side and a turn lane in the center, making parking even harder. Additionally, a block away, a bank was torn down and replaced with an apartment complex, which, though it appears to have underground parking has made parking more difficult. There rarely seem to be spaces near the vet’s office to park.
This isn’t a big deal when I am taking Lucy to the vet. I can park far away and Lucy will run, excited to be somewhere new. Fiona, at 14, is another matter, and today was her annual appointment. I usually pray for a space large enough for two cars, so I can drive in and then adjust. Today, there was no such luck. In this circumstance, I often drive around the block once or twice hoping for a miracle.
Today as I drove slowly in front of the building a space just big enough for one car was open. I had a split second to decide if I was going to keep driving or attempt parallel parking. I HATE parallel parking in the best circumstances, but, here I was, in the middle of the day on a busy street. Knowing this might be the only spot nearby, I bit the bullet and decided to go for it.
I pulled up beside the car in front of the spot I wanted. My blinker was on so the river of cars beside me flowed into the turn lane to get around me. I took a deep breath, cranked the wheel and started backing up into a perfect act of parallel parking. I crowed my pleasure. Fiona just looked at me from the back seat like I was crazy.
booksandbassets 
Fiona should be happy – not only did she get to take the short walk indoors, but SHE didn’t have to parallel park! Thanks for sharing this fun escapade to the vet’s office.
Oh my what a blast from the past. I lived in Laurelhurst, and went to HS at Washington. I worked at this clinic beginning as a volunteer just after Dr. Plamonden (sp) retired, and while Dr. Jarvis E. Williams was there, becoming a paid employee, my last time there the summer after St. Helen’s blew, when I was home from college. One of the vet techs, Sandra Ledgerwood, became one of my life-long friends. There used to be some parking in the back. One time, early in my work there, I was in early to clean the kennels. A dog escaped out the back and I had to chase it, in a panic, down Burnside. Learned a good lesson that day about doors :-).
Funny! There is a tiny parking lot, but it is for staff. It is not the fanciest vet clinic, but I really like my vet.
I’m with you! Hate parallel parking, especially if anyone is watching. Sometimes I get it just right and boy do I pat myself on the back!
Congratulations. Now I bet you will look for parallel parking spots because you can do it. One of the perks of having a Toyota Corolla is that they are small enough to fit in spaces bigger cars can’t Easier to parallel park that way.
I really enjoyed reading this! When I was in college I had to master parallel parking. That was too many years ago to count, and since I have been living in the suburbs I haven’t had many occasions to practice. Now I avoid parallel parking at all costs!
I failed my driving test the first time I took it because of–you guessed it–parallel parking! Now I live in a city and have to practice it all the time–I’ve gotten much better, but I still loathe it with a fiery heat.
This is soooo funny! I just parallel parked last week!!! I haven’t done that for years. But I did it perfectly and I was so excited I got out and took a PICTURE of my car perfectly positioned between two vehicles and lined up evenly 10 inches from the curb – never even hitting the curb, let alone the other cars! I didn’t even CARE if anyone saw me taking a picture. Who wouldn’t take one? Hmmm. A post for tomorrow???
Isn;t it funny how proud we feel about accomplishing this task. If I’d had a camera, I would have taken a picture too!
I avoid parallel parking at all costs. I have never succeeded so instantly break out into a cold sweat if I have no other choice. Stress doesn’t work well with my brain so I usually walk miles before I even attempt it. Good for you. You probably misinterpreted hat look from Fiona–she was probably patting you on the back.
Great story! I’m with all the parallel parking haters but it reminds me of a story: in college @ UCLA whle walking the streets of Westwood. I saw Joan Rivers (with young daughter Melissa) trying to parallel park her Mercedes. She drove up the curb & almost hit a parking meter. I laughed & she waved me off smiling (& maybe a little embarrassed)!
I don’t mind parallel parking. I struggle with it, but I don’t mind as long as no one else is around. If someone is watching me or other cars are around, forget about it! It’s so stressful. I can’t help but sweat and I usually end up angrily pulling away and finding an easier, much farther away, spot. It is such a great victory if you get it, though!