Parking Lot Rage

August 9, 2012 in Humor with 27 Comments


Then you have to face that awkward moment when you both get out of your cars…

You sheepishly nod to confuse him into thinking he merely imagined you going all Michael Stipe and losing your religion on him, while he just gives you the confused, befuddled look of a man who was just dressed down for failing to yield.

This rule also applies to driving on the interstate when approaching a traffic jam. Nothing’s more awkward than giving a dude the “stare o’ death” as you pass him, only to sit next to him in a standstill for the next two hours.

When in doubt, count to ten, pray the serenity prayer, summon your inner Oprah- whatever works for you.  It might happen that the guy who just cut you off is the guy who’s about to cook your dinner.

Ever had any awkward parking lot moments?

Does this post look familiar? It was originally published 12/14/11. Never read it before? Disregard that last sentence- this is TOTALLY brand new and I just wrote it.
  • http://theisleofman.blogspot.com Kevin Haggerty

    For me, it hasn’t been parking lots as much as commute routes. Going back and forth to and from Gloucester, I find that I’m starting to see the same people on a regular basis. Generally speaking ,the idiot that ticked me off yesterday will probably tick me off today. 

    • http://stephenhaggerty.blogspot.com Stephen Haggerty

      Might as well be a parking lot then :/ I’m pretty sure the Christian response in this situation is to get in front of him and toss a handful of tracts out the window…

      • http://theisleofman.blogspot.com Kevin Haggerty

        Make it rain.

  • http://billgrandi.com bill (cycleguy)

    Worse yet is when they are from the church you attend or they end up following you into the church parking lot.  Nope never happened to me.  I have heard those things.  :)

    • http://stephenhaggerty.blogspot.com Stephen Haggerty

      Haha… Right on Bill… I’ve “heard of” this sort of thing happening to others as well :)  My wife and I are extra mindful nowadays to be on extra good driving behavior on the way to church- because you never know…

  • http://sightregained.com Louis Tullo

    I bet God must hear more prayers about driving than a lot of other things. It’s funny how we all seem to go a bit crazy on the road.

    • http://stephenhaggerty.blogspot.com Stephen Haggerty

      I think in plenty of cases, it’s not exactly “prayers” being spoken in the car. :) But you’re right- we all can lose it from time to time if we’re not careful.

  • Anonymous

    Such a great point. I have made it a point to listen to worship music or a teaching while driving. I also pray (Mostly while driving to work). I have a tendency to get frustrated while driving(For so many reasons) and these things have really helped.

    • http://stephenhaggerty.blogspot.com Stephen Haggerty

      I like it!  Thanks, Dan.  I think those times are the worst for me, when I’m listening to some words like “break my heart for what breaks Yours” immediately after I yell at somebody for cutting me off, etc.  But it helps to have that conviction.  These things help, thanks for the thought.

  • http://www.lifeofasteward.com Loren Pinilis

    Ha. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about being behind a steering wheel. It turns me into a different person.
    The worst is Sunday mornings when I’m all frustrated at the person in front of me driving slowly. I’ll mutter under my breath and roll my eyes. Then the person pulls into my church ahead of me. Oh.

    • http://stephenhaggerty.blogspot.com Stephen Haggerty

      Aghh… Loren- you and I both!  That is the absolute worst… Talk about humble pie.  Good to hear from you.

  • http://www.robshep.com Rob Shepherd

    Funny stuff. I haven’t had any awkward moments but my wife heard gun shots and parked next to a mugging at the mall.

    • http://stephenhaggerty.blogspot.com Stephen Haggerty

      Wow… Gun shots and a mugging- for reals? Hoping not all at the same parking lot. I feel like that’s a whole other blog post – “What to do when parking next to a mugging and hearing gun shots.”

  • Sevenfromheaven7

    I have sometimes raised both hands (unfortunately not always in praising God) and asked “what?”  like the picture above. And then I think…what if that person goes to my church or my school. What if they decide to visit our church on Sunday?   hahaha!  So I do try and keep the outbursts to a minimum. At least, only Katelyn can hear me.  haha!

    • http://stephenhaggerty.blogspot.com Stephen Haggerty

      I’ve never once had the type of outburst you’re describing… ever. Don’t ask Brooke to confirm whether or not that’s true :p

  • http://stephenhaggerty.blogspot.com Stephen Haggerty

    I’ve never once had the type of outburst you’re describing… ever. Don’t ask Brooke to confirm whether or not that’s true :p

  • Phil

    Looked brand new to me. :) the interstate comment hit a little too close to home. The long commute can make even the calmest person lose their mind every once in a while. The only thing I don’t appreciate in parking lots are those tiny cars that are already parked hiding behind larger ones making you think there is an empty spot when there isn’t.

    • http://thebeardedidealist.com/ Stephen Haggerty

      Ha, thanks, Phil!

      I’m with you on the tiny cars (and motorcycles!)… they get my hopes up, and then squash them like grapes every time…

  • http://randomlychad.com Chad Jones

    Upping the ante a bit is when you have an outburst of “speaking in tongues” as you’re driving, forgetting the little one in the car seat behind you.

    You go on about your week, thinking nothing of it, then the next guy cuts you off, and before you can speak, you hear a little voice saying “Jerk!”

    Nope, has never happened to me. ;-)

    • http://thebeardedidealist.com/ Stephen Haggerty

      :) I enjoyed reading this “purely hypothetical” account. Makes me chuckle- and cringe, that I’ll someday do this with future little ones… hypothetically speaking of course.

  • http://undistractedchristian.com/ Tyler Hess

    no, i’m a good person

    • http://thebeardedidealist.com/ Stephen Haggerty

      I knew it!!

  • http://deuceology.wordpress.com Larry Carter

    I never have any type of road rage. Nop. Never have.

    • http://thebeardedidealist.com/ Stephen Haggerty

      You are so zen it’s not even funny.

  • http://dancarman.blogspot.com/ Daniel Carman

    I had a moment like this. A guy pulled out in front of me with a reckless merge/bumper wiggle and then we both pulled into a nearby 7-11. The guy humbly apologized to me and said that if someone had done to him what he had just done to me, he would have cussed him out mercilessly. I guess that in his unquenchable desire for a Spicy Big Bite (TM), he had gone clinically, but temporarily, insane. I then soothed my shattered nerves with an ultra-jumbo sized Mt. Dew. … Ah, good times.

    • http://thebeardedidealist.com/ Stephen Haggerty

      Awesome story, though I’m disappointed he didn’t offer to buy you a slurpee or slim Jim to rectify his misdeed.

  • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

    When it comes to driving, it seems like my sin nature comes out even more. That’s all I can say, without incriminating myself.