So, it’s early on a random weekday in Boston.  I’ve driven through the pre-rush hour traffic with my iPod blaring and coffee sitting in the cup holder.  I’ve navigated the winding streets of Dorchester and Southie with ease and comfort.  I’m happy….I’m at peace….my life is brilliant!  I walk into work with a smile on my face and greet my co-workers with a cheery “good morning”.   I settle in at my desk and have the first few sips of my DD medium French Vanilla.  I love my job and consider myself lucky.

Then I answer the phone.

The young man on the other end of my phone is very irate and in his most accusatory tone says, “You towed my car again!”  Funny, I don’t remember towing anything…….and damn I should’ve gotten a large coffee!  I turn on the Mary Poppins voice and ask my new found friend where exactly his car was when he last saw it.  He spits out the location along with a loud narration about how we do this every month to him. 

“Wait, what?” I ask suddenly confused. 

“Every month you people tow my car and I have to waste time getting it back.  Then I have to pay a huge fine.”  Mind you, there were many expletives thrown into this comment.

“Sir, how many times has your car been towed this year?” Looking over my shoulder at the calendar.

“10 times!” he yells.   It is October…..every month.

“Sir, you are aware that the city of Boston does street cleaning once a month…on the same day every month….in your neighborhood right?”  My forehead is now resting on the desk.

“Yeah I know, so what????” he barks at me.   And my mood is shot!!!!!!!

This is not an actual conversation.  Wait! Let me reiterate…..this is a conversation we have MANY times.  It is made up of conversations with many people….many regulars….that call EVERY SINGLE MONTH the day after this or that neighborhood has street cleaning.  You would think after dishing out cash every month…..hell, even dishing out the cash ONCE, they  would develop some sort of learning curve.  A friend of mine moved to Boston and had her car towed ONCE.  After giving the Commonwealth the money for her parking ticket…..and the $110 to bail her car out from whatever tow yard it was incarcerated in....she learned her lesson.  How many times do these people have to put their hand on the burner before they realize it’s hot!!!

IMPORTANT TIP:  money saving, time saving, stress saving tip……Go outside your dwelling and look at the sign on your street.  Read said sign and take mental note of the day it references.  (i.e. 3^rd Thursday of the month, 2^nd Tuesday……).  Go back in dwelling and find the brightest marker you can find.  Go to calendar and circle that day EACH AND EVERY MONTH!!!  Now, on the day before that circled date…….put your car somewhere else!

NO PARKING MEANS JUST THAT…..NO PARKING!!!!!!!!!

Also,   the NO PARKING signs that you see when you park near the Fenway on game night…..those are real as well!!!