Hazardous Shopping

I don't usually wait until the Saturday before Christmas to do my Christmas shopping. And no, I don't wait until the 24th either. It's usually all done at least the week before Christmas. Of course having all my relatives living far away is a help. I need to have their packages sent out at least the week before Christmas, so that becomes my deadline.

This year I went shopping on the Saturday before Christmas. I had planned to go out earlier in the week but with all this snow and the kids not having school all week, it never happened.

Saturday I made my lists and headed out. I got about 2 miles from the mall when I saw a huge backup on the highway. Yes, that was the line of cars waiting to enter the mall parking lot. But I was alone with no kids screaming in the car, so I didn't mind the wait.

After about 30 minutes, I finally entered the mall parking lot. I figured that I would at least try to find a parking spot before I ventured across the street to park. If I parked across the street, I wasn't prepared to walk through snow or ice. After waiting a few minutes, some people entered their car in front of me. I put on my turn signal and waited for them to pull out. Then another car pulled into the same aisle of the parking lot facing me. He also turned on his turn signal. The car pulled out. I started to pull in when the other car snuck in first! I was mad! WTH?! I beeped my horn for a few seconds (that's the New Jersey in me) and backed away. The guy got out of his car and yelled, "I don't f*ing care!" At this point, I knew I was dealing with a psycho. I started to drive away. But with a full parking lot, I didn't go very fast.

He then started shouting, "You don't know who I am, do you?"

"Uhh the crazy guy who stole my parking space? " I thought.

"You're a nobody!" He continued to shout.

Luckily by now I had managed to drive far enough away that I could no longer make out his ramblings. I'm sure the other shoppers on the sidewalk enjoyed his monologue. What a way to make the season merry and bright.



BTW today is day 7 of being snowed in my house while we enjoy some "special" family time.