By Anessa V. Cohen

Here we are again with Pesach barely two weeks away, and the constant snow and cold weather that we have been plagued with is still here. Usually by now, even with the cold weather, I am already starting to take out at least some outdoor furniture and even putting some hardy flowers in pots outside to spruce up the yard in preparation for Pesach. Well, I guess I can forget about putting out the plants this yom tov or putting out any lawn furniture, since I will be lucky if I get to see my lawn at all during yom tov–that is, if it does not snow some more!

One thing I must talk about today is parking. We seem to have a virus going around town: people are in such a hurry that when they park they do not bother to see if their cars are in their parking spots or whether they are taking up one or even two additional parking spots. Even the meter maids are so confused they don’t know which spot to write on a parking ticket.

During non-yom tov preparation times this problem becomes a nuisance more times than it should, but for some reason, the few weeks leading up to yom tov are so bad, sometimes I feel I should come into the parking lot with a tow truck and valium!

Please explain to me why, when people have a minivan or SUV, they feel that as long as the front of the van or SUV is between the lines of the parking spot, it is okay for the back to be halfway across the parking spot of the person parked next to them–even if that means that the minivan or SUV driver has now blocked the car in the next space, and that driver cannot pull out until the neighboring car’s driver returns. That driver cannot even get into the driver’s seat because there is only an inch and a half of space between the minivan/SUV and the car; if they want to get into that space, they need to enter on the passenger side and climb over to the driver’s side. Sometimes the minivan/SUV driver has left the car without even a backwards glance and is usually talking on a cell phone at the same time.

This parking problem is not an isolated incident, but one that happens often enough that it has become a Facebook discussion amongst the locals. Frustrated people are considering making a separate group about it with a thought towards taking license-plate numbers, posting the offenders’ plates, and keeping a blacklist! Although I mentioned minivans and SUVs, this is happening with other cars as well, although not as often.

The remedy to this virus is simple. Now that the issue is being discussed, all drivers should take an extra minute when they park to check that their cars are between the lines of that one parking spot and be sensitive to the guy in the parking spot next to it–it really only takes an extra minute. Everyone is in a hurry and working hard to get ready for yom tov and no one wants to deal with parking problems as well!

On a lighter note, Ben and Jerry’s came out with a new ice cream flavor–Charoset! I thought this was a riot, but I forgot to check if it is also kosher for Pesach. I will leave those who want to taste it to find out and let the rest of us know. v

Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a licensed real-estate broker and a licensed N.Y.S. mortgage broker with over 20 years of experience, offering full-service residential and commercial real-estate services (Anessa V Cohen Realty) and mortgaging services (First Meridian Mortgage) in the Five Towns and throughout the tri-state area. She can be reached at 516-569-5007 or via her website, www.AVCrealty.com. Readers are encouraged to send questions or comments to anessa.cohen@AVCrealty.com.

 

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