Monday, November 9, 2009

Parking garages

Dear Dan,

The world is becoming overrun with parking garages. They are becoming the only available places to park. I have to face that fact.

I realized this shortly after you jumped. For the past 2+ years I have at various times parked in garages, always choosing the lower floors. There have been only two times I've been to the top and both times it was A) due to necessity and B) at a garage with less than 7 floors.

Now that am working back on campus instead of a downtown location I can usually park in a lot adjacent to the garage. However, several days ago I was a little later than usual. All the spaces in the lot were taken and I had to park in the dreaded garage.

I was lucky! There was a space on the ramp area between the 1st and 2nd floor. That meant one staircase and I was out. After work I would only have to go up the ramp and down again to get out.

If only it had been that easy! As I was walking to the garage after work I noticed I was having a bit of a panic attack. I was having trouble facing going into the garage but I couldn't figure out any other way to get the car out and go home. By the time I got to the car I was talking to myself, trying to talk myself into calming down. I could barely get the key in the lock to open the door.

I drove to the top of that ramp and made the turn to drive across that level to the ramp to get out. I almost didn't stop to look for oncoming cars. By the time I was at the exit I was gulping for breath and crying.

I guess I'm not as good with garages as I thought and I hoped I was. I wonder if I'll ever be able to park in a garage without thinking.

Did you know Scott can't go into a parking garage at all? Mom isn't much better.

Speaking of mom, she surrendered her license. She said she doesn't feel comfortable behind the wheel. Her mind wanders and she's afraid that she'll hurt or kill someone she she gave up her license and it was all her idea. I'm proud of her for that. I know you are too.

I love you Danno.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

I knew Dan, he taught me how to use my camera and took me under his wing as an aspiring photographer. I had lost contact with him as i moved away from the KC area, I just stumbled upon this blog while trying to locate his web site so i could see if he had any recent works. I am speechless, I had no idea. I am very sorry for you loss, Dan was really a nice guy with a good heart.