Tales from the 'Hood: The Parking Space

I live in a townhouse community. We have a "U" shaped court with 18 townshouses in 3rows. Each house has 2 parking spaces. Due to the fact that we each have 2 spaces and there is only parking along 2 sides of the court, each house's spaces are not directly in front of the house they go with. Each parking space is numbered matching the house numbers - for example house #3225 has 2 parking spaces each numbered 3225. So therefore one would think that it would be quite easy to ascertain where one should park and where one shouldn't park. Not exactly.

My next door neighbors are from Yemen. They have 11 children. They always have visitors of one kind or another. My parking spaces are directly in front of their house. More specifically my "left" space, which is the one I always park in, is most directly in front of their house.

When I moved into the neighborhood almost 6 years ago to the day, we had some issues with their guests parking in my spot. Although it was never more than 1 car, it was always the spot on the left - there was a place for me to park, but it wasn't my spot. At 1st I let it go. I mean I could park and I wanted to be neighborly.

About 3 years ago I kept my mom's purple Volvo while my parents sowed their wild oats in the RV, which meant that I had 2 cars and needed both spots. All the sudden there were always cars parked in my space. At least once a week, sometimes twice. At first I was nice. I would go over and knock and ask them to move the car, which they always did, with apologies. When I continued to find cars in my spot I started getting angry. I attempted to explain that I had 2 cars and that under no circumstances should they allow their guests to park in my spot. I continued to find cars in my spot.

One day I came home and found a car in my spot and that was it. I'd had it. I parked them in and went into my house in search of the phone number for the towing company. Being as the spots are rightfully mine it is well within my rights to have a car towed. I glanced out the window to see one of the older girls and the guest standing outside baffled as to who might have parked them in. I went out and had a few words with them. Let's just say that wasn't a conversation for the children. I moved my car and allowed her out, after I'd been called a bitch several times.

The parking in my spot has declined since then, however I'm sad to say that it still continues, although not as frequently, I find someone there maybe 8-10 times a year and most of the time they move the car quickly when they see me coming or I just don't say anything, because obviously asking them not to park in my spot doesn't work.

This evening I returned home at 11pm after a fun evening celebrating Susan's birthday, and found a mini van parked in my left spot. My spot. There was a spot for me on the right, however, they were in my spot and I have asked so many times that they not park there that I was pissed.

I went in the house and wrote a nasty note to put on the car. As I was heading out to put the note on the car the neighbors were heading out of their house. They started with the apologies. I started with the angry words. I mean really, they seem to think that they can just use my spot whenever they want and just apologize it away? Oh and BTW not once have they ASKED me to use my spot, if they asked I'd prob say "sure" - other neighbors have used it and they have all asked - one even wrote a note and stuck it in the door when I wasn't home, I didn't care. I'm happy to share, just ask, realize that it's not yours to use at whim. Anyway, I lit into them about how we have been over this a thousand times and what part exactly of "DON'T PARK HERE" is confusing?

I then turned and walked to the mailbox to get my mail and the father followed me, again with the apologizes. I suggested that maybe he stop apologizing and not allow his guests to park in my spots. I explained that there is PLENTY of guest parking (really there is - a whole street where anyone can park, less than a block away, and it's very safe), and that when the rest of us have guests, that's where they park. I also suggested that he ask before he allow his guests to use my spot. He then launches into a whole sob story about how his son has hurt his back and just came from the hospital and yada yada yada. I didn't even care. Hospital or not, the rule is still don't park in my spot, or if you do, move the car fast (ie before I get home and find it) - I understand if they were getting him in the house etc, but they have so many people around all the time there's no reason they couldn't have moved the car as soon as the injured person was out.

As I'm yelling at the father the owner of the car drives up and tries the apology thing and says that it was her fault. I explained that it was in no way her fault, that it was their (I motioned over to the owner of the house) fault because they don't ask their guests to park in the appropriate guest spots.

I then stopped talking and walked back to my house, ignoring their many attempts to apologize.

I'm probably overreacting. It's the fact that they give me the impression that they think my spot is theirs because it's right in front of their house and no matter how much asking, yelling and threatening to tow* I do they just continue to do as they please and have seem to have no respect for my spot, my asking, or the general community rules. Maybe next time I have guests I'll have them park in their spots and see if they like how that feels?

*I'd be happy to have their car towed, however they always seem to see me park and come out (despite the fact that all their windows are covered b/c the women can't be seen w/o their head coverings) and if I called the towing company the car would be gone by the time they got there. I'm thinking that next time I'll pull my car out to the main road and then call on my cell that way they won't see me. I'd hate for it to come to that, but they just aren't getting the message.