(Originally posted in 2009 on my old blog site)
Legend has it that my Grandpa Jack scored a really good parking space at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. To put this in perspective, the New York World’s Fair occupied nearly a square mile and welcomed about 51 million visitors. So getting a good parking space was quite a feat. However that day, Jack had a feeling he could find an even better spot, a a bold thought that was bordering on lunacy. But he found one. And when I heard that story years ago, I dubbed my Grandpa Jack the Patron Saint of Parking Spaces.
Many decades later, long after my Grandpa had passed away, I took a trip to Disney World with my husband and some friends. As we pulled into the massively crowded parking lot at Downtown Disney, I said “C’mon Grandpa Jack, help us out” and lo and behold, a car pulled out in the front row. We could not have gotten any closer to the entrance if we tried. The couple who was with us has since adopted Grandpa Jack and has been politely asking him for parking spaces in the greater NY area ever since.
Jack’s own daughter, (my wonderful and wise Aunt) finally decided to give it a try a few years ago. The Tall Ships were due to sail down the Hudson River and everyone in NY was trying to park close enough to walk over to the Henry Hudson Parkway for a glimpse. So my Aunt said aloud, “Ok Dad, I need a parking space” and just then, a car toots its horn at her. She sticks her head out the window and the guy in the car said “Do you need a space? I’m pulling out in a minute. Go around the block and I’ll wait for you.”. So she did. And she got the perfect parking spot thanks to her Dad, Grandpa Jack, Patron Saint of Parking Spaces.
Just last week, I went out for some drinks with the girls. We went to a place on the water where there are very few parking spaces. My friends said we’d never get a space. I told them to just wait a second, as I pulled the car over in the packed lot. Not 5 seconds later, two ladies hopped in their VW Beetle right in front of me and pulled away. Later that evening, we decided to head over to one last spot for a little nightcap. This place is in a historic downtown area with tiny one-way streets and virtually no on-street parking except for a few meters. There waiting for me right in front of the restaurant door, was a nice, empty parking space, big enough for me to glide my truck right into. Coincidence? Um, no. Grandpa Jack just being one step ahead of me.
I don’t know what folks do up in heaven, but there’s a good chance that my Grandpa Jack is getting annoyed that so many people are now disturbing his regular poker game with God or whatever he’s doing. Maybe I shouldn’t even be writing about this. I like to think that I’m a generous person and willing to share whatever I have. Except when it comes to parking spaces.
Random Acts of Kathy 
Samie and I always pray to Grandpa Jack – especially during the holidays 💕😊💕