Goodbye, posts about pretty pink bleeding heart flowers and feminine Lilly Pulitzer dresses, about apple cake and quinoa and the goodness of book groups and sisters and friends. Why celebrate the nice things? In the end, life sucks.
H. and I had an important meeting with four people at Montclair High School today @ 9 A.M. I was a few minutes late, trying to be a good mother and attend to important matters at home that require some heavy mental lifting. I was pulled in a couple of tough directions. Also had to field a long, serious phone call related to that, starting at 7:57 A.M. [Actually, the phone was on speaker so H. and I could both participate. True treat.]
H. went in a separate car, to be on time. First I was going to park [at 9:04] on the street behind the high school, but no parking spots. Then no parking spots in front of the high school. So I stupidly parked at Montclair Radiology, across from the high school, even though it said Patients Only and Parking for Montclair Radiology Only/Others Will Be Towed. I have been a patient there [for mammograms], this was an urgent meeting involving someone's health and I would be only about an hour.
Plus, there were other empty spaces.
I know I was wrong. But I'm furious at this nasty woman who was getting into her creamy SUV when I was getting out of my Dad's old car and she gave me a dirty look because my door tapped hers [it didn't scratch, it just tapped, the spaces were tight]. I hurried and locked my door and grabbed my pile of files and notebooks and walked toward the high school. That nasty woman apparently marched back in to report on me before she left the lot.
One hour and 15 minutes later, my car was gone. Towed. It is at Roach's on North Willow Street in Montclair. The cost is $196 for today and $30 per day after that. But the cherry on top is that they won't let me get my laptop out of it, and I need my laptop to work. Right now, H. isn't using his, so I'm on that. And they only take cash or credit cards, and since our lovely bank has not cleared the check we deposited, we have to wait.
I am FURIOUS. I'm not proud of it. It's not good. I've always been a respectful person. But today I got very angry with the towing people. I'm not leaving. I'm going to stand here all day. I need my computer to work. I want to speak to your boss's boss. This is ridiculous. I guess I should have just walked over to my car and taken the laptop, not stopped here at the office window to ask you.
Yeah, and then we would have had to call the police and have you arrested, the man said.
They called the police to come and talk to me. I was mad at them all. Now a bad day is even worse, I said. Thanks for nothing.
I hate my life. And since I rarely defy authority, I'm now afraid that talking back to the police officer is going to catapult me straight to hell. But thanks for listening. I'll send a note from there.
H. and I had an important meeting with four people at Montclair High School today @ 9 A.M. I was a few minutes late, trying to be a good mother and attend to important matters at home that require some heavy mental lifting. I was pulled in a couple of tough directions. Also had to field a long, serious phone call related to that, starting at 7:57 A.M. [Actually, the phone was on speaker so H. and I could both participate. True treat.]
H. went in a separate car, to be on time. First I was going to park [at 9:04] on the street behind the high school, but no parking spots. Then no parking spots in front of the high school. So I stupidly parked at Montclair Radiology, across from the high school, even though it said Patients Only and Parking for Montclair Radiology Only/Others Will Be Towed. I have been a patient there [for mammograms], this was an urgent meeting involving someone's health and I would be only about an hour.
Plus, there were other empty spaces.
I know I was wrong. But I'm furious at this nasty woman who was getting into her creamy SUV when I was getting out of my Dad's old car and she gave me a dirty look because my door tapped hers [it didn't scratch, it just tapped, the spaces were tight]. I hurried and locked my door and grabbed my pile of files and notebooks and walked toward the high school. That nasty woman apparently marched back in to report on me before she left the lot.
One hour and 15 minutes later, my car was gone. Towed. It is at Roach's on North Willow Street in Montclair. The cost is $196 for today and $30 per day after that. But the cherry on top is that they won't let me get my laptop out of it, and I need my laptop to work. Right now, H. isn't using his, so I'm on that. And they only take cash or credit cards, and since our lovely bank has not cleared the check we deposited, we have to wait.
I am FURIOUS. I'm not proud of it. It's not good. I've always been a respectful person. But today I got very angry with the towing people. I'm not leaving. I'm going to stand here all day. I need my computer to work. I want to speak to your boss's boss. This is ridiculous. I guess I should have just walked over to my car and taken the laptop, not stopped here at the office window to ask you.
Yeah, and then we would have had to call the police and have you arrested, the man said.
They called the police to come and talk to me. I was mad at them all. Now a bad day is even worse, I said. Thanks for nothing.
I hate my life. And since I rarely defy authority, I'm now afraid that talking back to the police officer is going to catapult me straight to hell. But thanks for listening. I'll send a note from there.
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Oh honey, you DESERVE to vnet. let it out and it will all feel a bit better (albeitly, poorer) in a few days when the car and laptop are back. What a sucky day!!!!!! But you are so not going to hell. As I once told a woman I adore who has suffered through many trials--"Honey, if you're going to hell, I want no part of that heavean." Sending lots of love, k
ReplyDeleteWhat a terribly frustrating day. That vindictive woman sounds like she has a problem, not you. Tomorrow will be better. Talk soon. Love ya. Lin
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim and Lin. I think I need a beginner's course in anger management. I really do appreciate your supportive notes. love, alice
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so angry that this happened to you, Alice. I feel your pain, as I had a similar incident happen to me, but I got even. That was 27 years ago, and I'm still saying Hail Mary's for it. Bob
ReplyDeleteHow very horrible. And what stupid and arbitrary rules. Just hang in until things get better, as they surely will.
ReplyDeleteBob, good to hear from you. Thanks for the note. [BTW, I hope Dan got back to you--I left him your phone message. If not, I'll remind him again.] Thank you for the note. You are so funny....believe me, though, I feel so angry and it ain't pretty. Now my Dad's car has been impounded by the police at the towing place because though we got it insured, I lost the title after he gave it to me before he died a year ago, and have to bring death certificate to DMV and didn't yet. So i still can't have my car or laptop back and now the fees have snowballed big time. I got so angry at the man at the towing place again. he thinks i'm a raving nut. i feel like an ugly green toad. i was so angry at him. he didn't even call to tell me what had happened with the impounding, just waited till i got there to get my car. what an ugly patch in the road. i want out of this ditch. alice
ReplyDeleteHi Nan...thank you for the note...yes, I suppose things will get better.....and thank God we have another car and H. can take the bus into NYC appts tomorrow, b/c I have to get Figgy to appt. I hope all is well w. you and your world, Nan....alice
ReplyDeleteOh my God, Alice. I've just caught up, and what a horrible patch of luck you are having! You have every right to be angry! I'm angry on your behalf.
ReplyDeleteTowing seems to bring out everyone's anger. Once when James was a baby, the notorious Hoboken cops put a lock on my car because I was in a residents-only spot. I walked across town to pay the fine with him in the Baby Bjorn. On the way, a school crossing guard spotted me jaywalking and gave me a very condescending lecture, and I lost my shit on her. Now, you know me ... how likely is that? But it happens. I was angry.
Actually, looking back on it, how likely am I to park illegally and jaywalk in a single afternoon? :) But I was in the new-parent state of exhaustion, and ... mistakes happen.
Hang in there, lady.
Oh, Eileen....this note really helps me. thank you. hang in there, lady--that puts a smile on my face. I hope you and your sweet family are doing well. love alice
ReplyDelete