The streets are in a rage today. Everyone is going somewhere to buy something or sell something or steal something.
Traffic is snarled and parking tickets are being written in bunches: One car in a crosswalk, two up on a sidewalk and three in a bus stop.
“These people don’t care,” a parking cop says. “Double parked, tripled parked and some of them block the whole street. We try to keep emergency lanes open and people move the barriers to park.”
It almost makes you feel sorry for the parking cops.
“We need a way to show these people who is really in charge,” the parking cop says.
Yeah, almost.
Even though most New Yorkers can’t work up a holiday-shopping rage it is interesting to watch. It’s like seeing an enemy fan being hauled out of Yankee Stadium by a dozen cops. It may not be right, but you quickly come to terms with the fact that justice can take many forms.
The parking cop gets on the radio and calls a tow truck to Broadway and 56th Street.
Another car in a bus stop. A BMW with Massachusetts plates. Perfect.
Justice is served.
People do get extra crazy this time of year. I find it best to stay out of the way so I don’t get run over by one of those BMW cars from Boston.
That sounds like a good plan, Joe L.
yeah, it's true. i stay in today also. i'm back up in NY to visit w/ my grandpa. we're having most of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren here at my folks' house for what i'm sure is the last time. this will be my last birthday (coming up) w/ him, as well.
not far from here - at Green Acres Mall - a man was trampled to death today trying to get into Wal-Mart for the Black Friday sales. that is just pure insanity. people really need to get a grip on what's important...
i think it's important to read Todd Drew's human interest stories on a daily basis! certainly a lot safer, that's for sure!!! : )
thelarmis,
I am glad your grandfather was home for Thanksgiving. I’m sure that made him feel better.
That doesn't sound much different than what I normally go through when I'm PAing; driving a cargo truck down a side street to pick up camera equipment at a Manhattan rental house that happen to be located on the narrowest streets, where delivery trucks are already double-parked. Thankfully I'm taking a break from it all visiting family in Connectdadots (my nickname for CT)... my niece and I drove up early in the morning yesterday to beat traffic (which we did), but now she wanted to ruin it by attempting to go back in a few hours today so she can go to classes tomorrow. Thankfully, my brother-in-law volunteered to dump her at a Metro-North station in Waterbury; close enough from where we are so she can get back into the city and deal with the madness herself. Good luck with that, NikNak! >;)