When something happens that is – or should be – extremely obvious, the kids say “DUH.” “DUH” says it all. It’s like the old TV ad that said, “I should have had a V-8.”
I have been parking at my local Kaiser medical facility for many years. I choose to park in the outside lot if it doesn’t look like there are 17 other cars cruising the lot. I like this lot because (a) it is the first lot I come to, (b) I enjoy walking in the sunshine from my car to the medical center, and (c) in inclement weather, I can use the shuttle van to take me from the lot to the medical center entrance.
If the outside lot appears “crowded,” as it does approximately half the time, I then reluctantly proceed to the inside parking garage. The two levels of this garage are always crowded. Upon exiting the garage, whether it is the first or second level, there is a covered walkway to the medical center.
For many years I have struggled to locate a parking spot in this garage. Often I found myself driving around the two levels in circles. Occasionally I fit my compact car into an even more compact parking space, just to see if I can get out of the car. At times, I couldn’t extricate myself. I had to drive around some more.
Well, a few days ago, I just happened to drive a bit further than usual and, to my amazement, when I approached the elevator, the sign said “3rd Floor.” I was even more amazed when I entered the elevator and saw that there was a 4th floor!
I couldn’t wait to get back to my car and drive ”upwardly” to explore the parking structure. Sure enough, and this time not to my amazement, there were hundreds (well, at least 100) available parking spaces on the 3rd and 4th levels.
I have the urge to create some large signs, and place them strategically on the first two levels. They would read, “Drive up to the 3rd and 4th floors and you will find lots of parking spaces.” I decided not to make the signs and, instead, to allow other drivers to have their DUH moments, too.
I think that our DUH moments probably shake us up a bit in life, and possibly make us more aware of other, potentially DUH moment situations.
Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com.
