Patience, I thought quietly to myself, You will not get angry if someone steals your spot, you'll find another, and like magic a parking space near the front of the store became available and the grey-haired little lady and her granddaughter smiled and waved as I parked.

What comes next is all too typical, taking in account the season. A few minutes later the Blue Van one spot down began to back out, but for the Black SUV waiting, the space was gone before Blue Van left the parking lot. A middle-aged woman in a White Explorer stole it. Black SUV honked, yelling profanities in Spanish out of his open window. White Explorer rolled up her windows, pulled out The Club, closed her eyes and covered her ears. Blue Van, enraged, opened the door and started yelling back at Black SUV in Spanish.

The argument became increasingly heated and by that point I could only understand little bits, Blue Van was infuriated that Black SUV was using such profanity in front of los hijos, Black SUV complained that he knew he was waiting, any fuck could have pulled out better. Black SUV cursed more and louder. White Explorer still had her hands to her ears.

Blue Van jumped out and got a shovel from the trunk; whether he meant to dent the vehicle or the driver I'm still not sure, but all of a sudden there was his chubby little wife dragging him back by the shirt and six children pouring out of the windows and doors pleading "Don't, Papa! We're sorry, mister!"

I glanced over at White Explorer, whose hands had moved from her ears to her lap. Her blank expression remained fixed for five minutes until both cars sped off. Then, she got out, got her bag, locked the door, and smiled.

Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Winter Solstice/Christmastime is supposed to be a joyful season of giving. Remember that giving not only means presents, but parking spots, too.