So many times in my life, I've been reminded that Karma has a way of coming back and biting one on the ass. It isn't necessarily in a way that hurts. Sometimes, it's only a subtle reminder.
Today, for the first time in my 30 years of driving, I parked in a handicapped parking space. Honestly, I have NEVER done it before, wouldn't normally think of doing it, glare at seemingly able-bodied people without permit or license who do, etc. In my extremely poor defense of this action, I had been held up a half an hour, unable to move my car due to being blocked in the parking lot where I work by high school track meet student-laden school buses, was held up in traffic after that and, finally, found the handicapped parking space the only space left and I was only going to be in there two minutes at best. Could I have gone onto another convenience store? Sure. Did I? Insert short, embarrassed laugh here.
Hello, butt-bitin' Karma? Have I got a job for you.
I went into the store, got my one item that I could have gone anywhere else for and hightailed it out. Not fast enough. As I got back to my car, what did I see but a car with a handicapped license plate parked right next to mine, and the driver, a gentleman likely in his 60s or so, just coming around to the passenger side at a slow pace. As soon as he realized which car I was going to, he stopped and waited. He had cause to be annoyed. It was his legal right to park in the spot my car was occupying. Did he say anything? Yes. With a gracious wave of his hand, he pleasantly said, "After you, Miss." I muttered my thank you, then as quickly as my only mildly aching back would take me, I got in my car and left.
With deadly aim, whether intentional or not, this man had killed me with kindness. I could hear the slogan "Don't Put Yourself in Their Space" ringing through my mind as clearly as if I were hearing it on the radio, from an advocate for the disabled, or from a police officer giving me the ticket I so richly deserved. Worse, I could hear my brother, a disabled veteran, scolding me from across the country about my selfishness all the way home.
Now, to raise another item in my extremely poor defense, I have genuine physical problems that make me sometimes wish I had a permit to park in those pretty blue spaces. The MRI machine and I are old friends and I have some real damage in my spine and some weightbearing joints. But, I've painfully limped my way from far back in many a parking lot many a time in the past, and consider myself quite able-bodied most other times. The mildness of today's aches was no excuse.
So, in exchange for my brazenly inappropriate act, I was gently reminded of the health I still have, the obstacles that others must deal with everyday and the simple things that I can and should be doing to help those not as physically fortunate as myself. Will I ever park in a handicapped parking space again? With appropriate permit or license, maybe. But like my part-time wheelchair driving brother, I think I'll still park in the spaces further back so that others who have more difficulty getting around, for whatever reason, can do so with just a little more ease.
To the unknown gentleman who extended this reminder, my sincerest apologies here and my promise to never do it again.
And to whatever force in the universe that sent that bit of Karma to take a chunk out of my derrière today, ouch -- and thanks.
