HE LOVES THE METER MAID

Is there anything more annoying than getting a parking ticket?  It is so frustrating to do the right thing and feed a meter which expires a minute short of anticipation and the meter maid has already started to input the license plate.  On one hand, I feel bad for meter maids as they endure abuse all day long for just doing their jobs.  Sometimes, when it is truly a close call, many meter maids err on the side of being cool and do not issue the ticket.  Love them!  The worst part is that the parking ticket fees seem to have doubled.  In the past, I admit that I used to park in red in areas where there was no valet or lighted walkways justifying the $22 dollar ticket in the name of safety.  Today, I find it impossible to justify the $50 dollar ticket.  My boyfriend before husband used to get really angry if I got a parking ticket.  I can vividly remember him slamming his dashboard with his fist when he himself would get a parking ticket.  (curious Mr. ex if you still get as angry about parking tickets?)  As a result of the fear he instilled in me about parking tickets, it is rare that I approach my car to see a white piece of official paper perched on my windshield.  The other day, my friend picked me up in “escy” to go out for dinner.  I went searching in her glove compartment for a piece of gum.  As I opened the glove compartment, a rainfall of parking tickets flew out.  She laughed and quickly hid them under the driver’s seat.  What is going on, I asked?  She raised her eyebrows and explained to me that there IS punishment in her household when she gets a parking ticket.  She must service her husband orally for each parking ticket.  Poor girl, she does manage to have bad luck with parking tickets and I can only imagine how tired her jaw must be.  Her husband must be the only person in America who APPRECIATES meter maids and is singlehandedly collecting money for their year-end bonuses!