Story 33: Dude, where's my car?

  A few years ago, a former girlfriend and I went out to eat at a well known mobbed up Italian restaurant in Corona, New York.  Dinner went well, but after we exited the restaurant we went to get our car and had some drama.

  Back then unlike most places, this restaurant did not give you a ticket when you valet parked your car.  So, when we got to the valet desk I was asked, “What kind of car do you drive?”

  I responded, “A white Jeep Grand Cherokee, "and with that the valet went in the back of his very crowded parking lot to bring out our vehicle. When he drove up we were a bit surprised because he was in a brand new sparkling white Cherokee.

  “That’s a nice car,” I joked.  “but ours is way older.”

The valet looked at us and replied, “Thank you for noticing, because last week we had a woman drive her car halfway to Manhattan before she spotted a baby seat in the back, and realized that we gave her the wrong car.”

  “What happened next?” I asked.

“She drove it back to the restaurant and parked it front.  Just as she pulled up, the real owner came out and told us how efficient we were and gave us a good tip.” He replied with a smile and a laugh.

“Mistakes happen,” I remarked. “At least the baby wasn’t in there too.” and with that my girlfriend and I laughed and drove home, thinking of pasta, parking, and parenting.

Life Lesson 33: I think the lesson that can be learned is that it is important to speak up when you feel wronged for your rights, your property, or anything else that you value, because if you don’t who will.