As in Parking Place.
Some Readers may recall I did a Blog awhile back wherein I complained about all of the restricted parking spaces in mall lots - but none for the healthy, mobile, well adjusted, and child unencumbered.
I pointed out then, that there were spots reserved for the Disabled, for the Pregnant, Mothers with Children, Fathers with Children and more lately, even spots reserved for hybrid vehicles.
With all those spaces reserved, it left little for the ROU - the Rest of Us - other than at the extreme back of the Lot.
I predicted the day would come though when there would be but one sign on these Lots - to be used by the ROU since all the other parking places would be reserved and therefore Lot Owners would not have to go to the bother of marking off those spots.
I figured though that day was somewhere well off in the future; how wrong I was.
In fact, it is here now.
Just back from shopping at a good sized Mall - anchored by a 400,000 sq ft IKEA including several other stores of note.
But here is the thing - There was only One Set of Reserved Signs available - 8 in all, and all reserved for "Family".
My first thought, and probably yours, was/is that this was just another form of restriction, but I reflected on it and then realized we are all "Family" in one way or another.
Now let me be totally honest with you - these 8 signs included a picture of a man, child, and woman with a carriage which, admittedly, falls within the definition of family. But so do all of the Rest of Us.
In fact, just to be sure, I looked up the definition of Family and found, among other things, it provides for "all ...members of a household living under one roof".
My wife Anne was with me - so the two of us certainly qualified under that definition, having not yet resorted to living under separate roofs.
But Dear Reader, the Definition is not just limited to a man and woman living under one roof. The Definition of Family is so broad it also includes "a group of people sharing common ancestry". And you will note here, there is nothing in this wording that requires this "group of people" to be living under the same roof. It could just be little olde you - living alone - but still part of a Family at large - ie your parents live next door - or you have a sister / brother / cousin living across town etc. Or even in another Country. Yup you are family.
So there you have it - finally an all inclusive definition that at first blush appears to be restrictive, but on closer examination, includes us all.
So no more restrictive parking. Hallelujah !!
We've become one big family again. I just wish they thought to reserve more than 8 spaces.
As I see it....
'K.D. Galagher'
