PARKING TICKET written on a highlighter yellow envelope lying on the white kitchen counter. It screams! It’s been there for a week.
Meter infraction
Downtown/Central
No Comment
Fine: $20.00
Initial Fine doubles if not paid within 10 days.
It was Tuesday evening. I met my friend, Shelli, for a beautiful evening on the patio at Hop Cat. We had fish tacos and crack fries. We got caught up on her move to a new home, her summer vacation at the cottage, her granddaughter. The sky was the perfect color blue. The sun illuminated the city scene. The sweat on the glass gave testimony to the humidity in the air. It was a perfect summer evening on the patio. I walked back to my car parked along the city street. I had been careful to put enough quarters in the meter and crank the knob to the right each time. The sun was still up because it is only a few weeks past the summer solstice. The heat rose up from the sticky pavement and radiated up my legs under my sundress. My rule of thumb for a perfect summer evening is one in which I can sit outside on a restaurant patio and not have to wear a sweater over my sundress. Yup, this was it. The perfect summer evening. Then I caught a glimpse of the parking ticket tucked under my windshield wiper. Its edge fluttered slightly in the soft breeze. My smile relaxed a little. My sense of self satisfaction was slightly tinged. If I had only put in two more quarters I could’ve saved myself $20.00. My summer evening had been perfect. I felt very alive. The summer evening sun was still warm on the back of my neck. The conversation was still swirling in my head. The parking ticket was just a tiny annoyance. I swatted away the thought of it as I tucked it away in my purse for the time being returning my state of mind to perfect.
ReadWriteThruLife 
Isn’t it amazing how annoyed you can get by receiving a parking ticket. Glad you didn’t let it ruin your whole evening.
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Thanks for stopping by to read and comment on my blog Haddon Musings!
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Well, $20 is not much considering you had a lovely time. But,next time, you’ll have that change and be ready!
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Tara, I agree – it was worth the $20 but you can bet I’ll have a wad of change next time. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment on my blog post. Happy summer!
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ohhh such a bummer, but glad you put it away, forgot about it, and reveled in your perfect evening!
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Yes, and now I need to pay it, Michelle. It was a lovely evening! Thanks for stopping by to read and comment! Happy summer!
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What a beautiful description of your evening! I want that evening out, too! Even with the parking ticket. It could be worse – we got a parking ticket in Chinatown in Chicago for $50!
What are crack fries?
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Becky – Wowzer! A $50 mistake? That’d turn my head. Crack fries – I don’t know what they are – they are the most delicious fries!!! Thanks for stopping by to read and comment on my blog post!
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I’m trying to remember the last time I ven parked near meters. I think it was a ten minute study to figure out that we were past the daytime hours of money collecting – darn all that fine print – but good to know as we didn’t have any change with us. So glad that the best part of the evening was already behind you and that memory will continue to be the stronger one with the ticket only as an annoyance!
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Fran, thanks for stopping by to read and comment on my blog post. Pam
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When I get a parking ticket in New Orleans, I figure the city could use a donation of $20. When you consider you are donating to a cause, it hurts less. I wish we had summer nights like those in Michigan. Too hot to stay outside for long way down south.
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Margaret, thank you for stopping by to read my blog. Well, a donation to the city is how I will now look at it. Thank you for that! Yes, you know that Michigan has cold, snowy winters so we all look forward to summers – they are truly magical. Come visit some time!
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