What it’s like having a car in the city

Thursday: realize car must be moved to an alternate-side parking spot for the next day’s street cleaning. Go home, take dog for night walk, head to car. Pull out of hard-won parking space from the day before.

Turn up Park Avenue South. Stop at light.

Turn right on East 16th Street. Dammit, that guy just got a spot. Stop at light.

Turn right on Rutherford Place.

Turn right on East 15th Street. Stop at light. Stop at next light.

Turn right on Irving Place. Stop at light.

Turn right on 16th again. Maybe that guy isn’t staying. No luck. Stop at light.

Turn left on Rutherford Place.

Turn left on East 17th Street. Stop at light.

Turn right on Irving Place. Stop at light.

Turn right on East 18th Street. Stop at light. Stop at light.

Turn right on Second Avenue. Stop at light.

Turn right on 17th. Think there’s anything new the second time through? Stop at light. Stop at light.

Turn left on Irving. Stop at light.

Turn left on 16th. Damn, the guy in front of me is looking for a spot too. Stop at light. Change strategy.

Turn right on Third Avenue. Stop at light. Stop at light. Cut off a bus.

Turn left on East 12th Street. Stop at light. Stop at light. Why am I driving all the way to Avenue A anyway?

Turn left on Avenue A. Stop at light.

Turn left on East 13th Street. Interrupt threatening gangs glaring at each other across the street. Stop at light. Stop at light. Stop at light.

Turn right on Third Avenue.

Turn left on 15th. Nothing. And it’s starting to get late.

Turn right on Irving. Stop at light.

Turn right on 16th. Stop at light.

Turn left on Rutherford.

Turn left on 17th. Stop at light. Stop at light.

Turn right on Irving.

Fuck it.

Pull into The Irving Place Garage.

Friday: get car from Irving Place Garage. Stop at light. Turn left on 16th Street….