Parallel Parking

Ever since my trip to Italy and Switzerland May 2006, I've been inspired to become good at parallel parking. Seriously, the Europeans are amazing. And they make it look so easy the way they manuever into crazy-tight spots.

Therefore, I've been quite fortunate to live in a neighborhood where street parking is tight and I've been forced to practice parallel parking.

Just between you and me, I sometimes even grab tighter spots further from my house just to increase the challenge so I can improve.

But all this practice over the past few months was only that - practice.

There is no real traffic in my neighborhood. I have no time constraints. There are very few people out-and-about -- so if happen to mess up and have to adjust several times... I'm almost completely certain no one even saw it.

All this is the background leading up to my momentous victory.

I successfully parallel parked on a real street into a moderately tight spot between two cars in town with traffic this afternoon. I was quick, smooth, close to the curb - all on the first attempt.

It was a pretty sweet moment.

Totally made my day.

Oh, and Jenny was in the car with me. So, there is a witness.