Ahhh, it's that magical time of year when I have to rush around during the final week before Christmas to shop for my loved ones. There's just something special about that burning sensation I get at the base of my skull when my fellow last-minute shoppers put their own interests above everyone else's. Last night on my annual journey through the enchanted South Shore Plaza, I encountered a handful of joyful patrons who were so overwhelmed by the holiday spirit that they forgot to be polite and constructive members of modern society. While searching for a parking spot, I was reminded of my favorite episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Pig Parker, in which Larry goes on a mission to promote parking space etiquette. "This is chaos! Society can't function like this," he proclaimed to a gentleman who had just parked his vehicle across two spaces. "That's just shoddy... it's not an open field! This is not a farm," he pleads. Alas, these wise words apparently went unheeded last night in the parking garage behind Sears at the Plaza.
I just hope that as panic truly sets in later this week, procrastinating Christmas shoppers take a deep breath and remember that they are not barbarians living in the Stone Age, and that their actions may have consequences that affect other people. Already, we have seen the psychological affects of the season driving people to the brink of insanity. On Monday afternoon, an unsuspecting driver in Quincy was pepper-sprayed by a fellow motorist following a traffic dispute. It's a shame that enraged driver did not see the aforementioned episode of Curb, otherwise they may have heeded the words, "society can't function like this."
So to all my fellow procrastinators, and all motorists braving the roads this week: be careful, treat others like humans... not punching bags, and above all, don't be a pig-parker!
From the ATA Insurance Agency family to yours - Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays... and don't be a pig-parker.