Parallel Parking

If approached correctly, pun intended, parallel parking is actually one of the simplest maneuvers to do.  Because it is usually on busy main streets, it is important to be able to execute a parallel parking maneuver quickly and efficiently.  As a result, when our two oldest (Erin and Matthew) were ready to get their driver's licenses we spent considerable time talking about the geometry of parallel parking and then going out on side streets and finding spaces in which to practice.  As a result, we are pleased they are both exceptional at performing this parking maneuver and pride themselves on this particular skill.

Now, this is not to slight our youngest son, but as a great surprise to me, when Krieg was ready to take his driving test, we were saddened to learn the State of Idaho did not require parallel parking as a qualifier on the exam.  We still had him try some, but not to the extent of the older two.

So, this morning, as I'm pulled into the curb at the corner to drop Deb at work, and get her little cart out of the back of the car, we both look up to see this Jeep Wrangler backing into a large space to parallel park two up from us.  After he backed into the curb the first time, with the front end still in traffic, we looked at each other and smiled.  When a second attempt resulted in getting parallel, but being about four feet from the curb (sticking out in traffic) we shook our heads.  With two more attempts, he finally got the Wrangler parallel and within two feet of the curb, and hadn't banged into the cars on either end of his space. 

We looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Erin and Matt would be embarrassed!" 

Unfortunately, parallel parking skills don't seem to be the only ones in which today's drivers are deficient!