Parking Shuffle

Dear Diary:

Most Tuesdays, I pull into a spot on Riverside Drive at the corner of 116th Street just before noon. I sit there for a half-hour reading until alternate-side is finished, securing a space that lets me see my car from the vestibule of my apartment when I get upstairs.

On a recent Tuesday, I wasn’t able to pull onto the block until 12:15. There were no empty spaces left when I got there. I drove laps around the neighborhood until I found a spot 10 blocks away.

Later in the day, I was looking out the window and I saw an empty spot. By the time I got my sneakers on, it was gone. Taking a chance, I walked the 10 blocks to my car anyway. After doing more laps, I eventually found a spot on Riverside two blocks from my window.

Crossing the street toward home, a spot ahead of me opened up. It was not only in view of my apartment but would also allow me not to move my car for an extra day.

A couple in a car nearby saw me turn back. They rolled down their window.

“You want that spot?” they said, pointing toward the space I had my sights on.

“Yes,” I said. “Do you?”

They shook their heads.

“Hurry, hurry,” they said before driving away.

I pulled out quickly, but when I got to the space, another car had already pulled in. Despondent, I started to pull away.