The Price of Free Parking

It turns out you really have to work for free parking these days.   I ventured out to Pentagon City the other day on a rare shopping trip and remembered why I generally avoid malls.

The first problem came as I tried to get my ticket on the way into the parking garage.  If you remember, since someone bashed my door the driver side window on my old Volvo wagon no longer goes up and down without complaining.  But by pulling ahead and opening my door to get the ticket, the machine refused to spit one out.  I’m sure the people behind me were glad when my combination of backing up and persistence paid off.

My sole reason for going to Macy’s was to purchase a tiny container of Christian Dior Creme Apricot ($23), which a friend swears will cure dry cuticles.  When I finally got someone to wait on me, she proceeded to tell me she was dead on her feet after getting to bed at 5 am.  I didn’t even bother to ask why as she handed me the little bag.



Pentagon City has a 2-ticket parking system.  You get one on the way in, as I finally did.  And you can pay up at a little machine on your way out of the mall, giving you a second ticket.  Or at certain stores, like Macy’s and Nordstrom’s, you can get a free second ticket after making a purchase. 

But wouldn’t you know, in Macy’s they put Customer Service at the most remote place in the store.  So I trekked up to the third floor corner to get my free parking ticket.  Along with a line of other people, who were equally annoyed at the inconvenience.

As I fed my 2 tickets into the machine on the way out, I was relieved as the bar came up and freed me and my old car from the parking garage. 

I seriously doubt I will have reason to visit any mall again before the holiday onslaught is over.  Maybe by spring my Creme Apricot will need to be replaced.