Why, yes, that was my rear end on 16th Street

I’m full of all sorts of happy, sunshiney things today, mostly because the amazing changes that have taken place in my life in the past month are the very things I’ve been dreaming of for months and now they’re here and YAY.

But, still, life always manages to humble you in some small, ridiculous way, just when you’re feeling amazing, right?

Yesterday, I met Steph and Leslie for an early dinner, and I had to park in a place where you must pay.  Now, I love downtown, but let me tell you, the city of Sacramento takes it’s parking RULL SERIOUSLY so I was a little skittish about making sure I’d paid enough, etc.  I could see the little parking police person coming up the street as I was paying, so I was getting a little nervous.

First and foremost, paying for parking took forever.  That stupid machine held my card, and authorized for literally two minutes.  I mean, look, I’m not rich, but seriously, it was $1.25.  Does it really take three minutes to make sure I have A DOLLAR AND TWENTY FIVE CENTS in my account?  Anyways, as I’m waiting and paying and praying to GOODNESS that the damn machine gives me my card ASAP so I can run back over to my car and stick my little sticker on my window.  Finally, victory is mine and my card is in my hand and I run back to my car.

Now, the parking sticker is a little bit of a tricky bugger.  Basically, you get a receipt that you have to attach to your window using a little sticker that you peel off.  It must be attached to your window with said sticker.  I am sorry if you live in a city where you do this daily, but I’m trying to give you a visual, okay?

Anyways, there I am, on 16th street, in the middle of traffic and general busyness, and the parking person was hauling towards me so I am scurrying as fast as my little short legs can take me.  I arrive at my car while he’s still a car or two behind, thinking I have plenty of time.

And then the breeze blows that parking pass right out of my hands.  Under my car, almost into traffic.  At first, I can’t see where the thing went and I look all around me, before spotting it fully under my car, stuck near my tire, on the traffic side.

I fully realize that above, I eschewed $1.25 as a significant amount of money, but I was NOT about to lose my $1.25.  Nor was I about to get a parking ticket.  So, I do what any self-respecting cheapo would do.

I marched around my car, stuck my butt in the air, towards oncoming traffic, and got that sticker.  I mean, yes, it was dangerous and no, I’m not really all about showcasing my behind to groups of people, but I did what I had to do.

I’m sure the parking man, who I didn’t see was literally ON TOP OF ME, enjoyed the show.  As did ALL of the oncoming cars.  A few even showed their, uh, appreciation with a honk.

But hey, I didn’t get a parking ticket, right?