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Try A Little Aggressiveness

July 22, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 10 Comments

upset woman

Came home after work today and was more than a bit annoyed to see that someone had taken the liberty of parking in my numbered space . . . again.

I’m one of the most laid back people I know. Still, I’m what my Grandmother described as “A real go-getter.”

My Mother says that I’m “a Matthews through and through.”

I’ve said it before: My Dad’s side is “loud and liberal” and my Mother’s side is “quiet and conservative.”

I believe I’m a good mixture of both. I’d further say that:

Live and Let Live + As Long As You Don’t Start Nothing Won’t Be Nothing = Me.

With that being said, after seeing that same car parked in my numbered spot again today – which made me have to park all the way on the end of the row instead of right in front of my nice new place . . . .

. . . .and the last time it happened (2 days ago) I had to walk to my unit with packages while it was raining . . . .

Let’s just say I’m not here for that.

Quick as a wink, I pulled a Post-It note from the dispenser on my desk and jotted this little note:

Post It 1

 

(the Unit number is edited, of course)

I was about to go affix it to the driver’s side window when I paused and asked myself:

  • Was I being too aggressive?
  • Was it going too far to put a Post-It on his window?
  • Should I be concerned about coming across as a “pain-in-the-neck” neighbor (even though he was being a “pain-in-the-neck” for me?
  • Should I forget this was now the 4th or 5th time this has happened (and I haven’t even been here three weeks yet)?
  • Should I just overlook the fact that we live in a very small “neighborhood” so everyone knows my car by now?
  • Should I disregard the fact that we all received the same parking rules (park in your numbered space + you have 1 extra space)
  • Should I just ignore the fact that this person knows he is parking in my space?
  • Should I be concerned about being viewed as a typical “Angry Black Woman” (even though 1-that’s what I was at the moment, and 2-I was pretty sure the guy in my parking space had no clue what that was)?

Side note: Seems to me that every week I’m encountering instances where Reading (or Counting) is Fundamental – and people are totally ignoring that fact.

That settled it – the answer to all of the questions above was a simple, “No.”

I went out the door and very politely placed the note on the window.

I’m not sure if he had an errand to run, or if he saw me (his blinds were open), but within 15 minutes, the vehicle was parked in the proper space.

When I left a couple of hours later to make a Starbucks run, this was affixed to my window:

Post it 2

Sometimes you just have to try a little aggressiveness.

Join in the Fray: When have you had to try a little aggressiveness?

I’m blogging every day in the month of July in Blogher’s NaBloPoMo Challenge. Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment!

Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, All rights reserved.

 

 

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Filed Under: NaBloPoMo Challenge, Series, Uncategorized Tagged With: aggressive, aggressiveness, Black women, Black. White, BlogHer, conservative, interracial, interracial dating, interracial marriage, interracial relationships, liberal, loud, NaBloPoMo, park, parking space, quiet, swirling, unit, unit number

About Michelle Matthews-Calloway

I'm a native Louisianan currently living in Dallas, TX. I have a B.S. degree in marketing, an MBA and a PhD in higher education administration. I love writing and research, and also thoroughly enjoy reading and working out.

I am passionate about cultural/ethnic diversity and interracial relationships; so much so that my dissertation focused on these concepts. I'm a widow, and I started dating interracially a few years after my husband passed away. In addition to blogging about interracial relationships and social issues, we also provide a podcast available on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud and Stitcher.

You can also find me on Twitter or Instagram @ASwirlGirl.

Do you love vintage photos and history with your pop culture? Them come and join me and Podcast Co-Host Adrienne London Leach on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheSwirlWorld. If you love our military, come and show our warriors some love at Facebook.com/Military Swirl.

In The Swirl World we celebrate and elevate Black Women - mind, body, soul and spirit!™

Comments

  1. TheSwirlWorld says

    July 27, 2013 at 11:41 PM

    *Rolls eyes*

  2. TheSwirlWorld says

    July 27, 2013 at 11:40 PM

    We actually get a numbered space PLUS a blank one, so even if he did that, he was still infringing on me. He could just as easily have parked in a blank space – mine is just much closer.

    No knocking on doors unless I need to borrow a cup of sugar! 🙂 j/k

  3. The Anti-Swirl says

    July 27, 2013 at 8:34 AM

    Nice pic of Angry Black Woman. Did you Photoshop the perquisite Throbbing Vein out of her forehead?

    Ha!

  4. George says

    July 25, 2013 at 7:30 PM

    I would be willing to bet that he has given up his parking space to someone who has moved in with him or he has moved in with someone. In either case, the party well knows the rules. The size of the complex really does not matter in any case: Your Space Is Your Space. Done. And don’t you dare knock on any doors! That spells trouble. Come to think of it: you could rent he your parking space and make some cash. 🙂

  5. A Swirl Girl says

    July 25, 2013 at 4:03 PM

    George,

    That was going to be my next step. Our complex is so small I figured taking it to that level would have been a bit much. Your points are valid, though – that is what I’m paying for.

  6. george says

    July 25, 2013 at 3:25 PM

    Building management will help you clear the parking spot issue. That is their job and part of what you are paying for. You need not approach the violator, insist the managent do their work.

  7. TheSwirlWorld says

    July 24, 2013 at 7:16 PM

    Yes, a “he” – I’ve seen “him” get in his car a couple of times in passing. I’m not sure which unit he’s in and I wasn’t going to knock on different doors to find out. I *think* he lives next door to the left of me but I’m not 100% sure.

  8. George says

    July 24, 2013 at 5:35 PM

    He? Did you actually see “Him” or do you assume it is a “He”? If you saw “Him” I should we trust that you told “Him” to his face to please not park in your space?

  9. A Swirl Girl says

    July 23, 2013 at 6:16 PM

    Elle,

    You make great points! Another thing I thought about was that I’m paying to be there just as he is. Why not claim the parking space that rightfully belongs to me???

  10. Elle says

    July 23, 2013 at 12:14 PM

    I think because your approach was polite and reasonable, the transgressor had to be so as we’ll-may calmer heads always prevail!
    And you should never not stand up for yourself!
    Hugs,
    Elle

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