As I drove to work this morning, I was full of joy. Freshly fallen snow covered the land, Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts Christmas album played through my speakers, there were many an opportunity for an e-brake pulling rally car slide. I love Christmas. But my joy was relinquished as I pulled into the parking lot here at work. I had forgotten about the absolute worst part of freshly fallen snow… no, it’s not crashes, cleaning off your car, or even getting snow in your shoe… it’s all the idiots who don’t know how to park.

All year long, we park in the exact same parking spaces 5 days a week. Even on the weekends, we travel to malls, movie theaters, and grocery stores. All the parking spots are pretty much the same size. So why is it that when the lines get covered up, people lose all common sense? I promise you, the parking spots are not twice as big as they were yesterday! Honest to goodness, I saw about 20 cars that were parked at least 5 feet from the car next to it, and about 10 that were parked 99/100 of my car width away.

Please, people. I’m pleading with you, park as close to the car next to you as you would normally do. And for those people who are first in the parking lot, park at the end of a row. If you’re next, park next to that guy, etc. Save a few people from having to trench their way through the snow, between you and the next car, into the building.