Quelle Bêtise !

We drove into town this morning to get a few things, parked in the main lot and then split up.  We agreed to meet back at the car.

I finished first and as I walked toward our car and unlocked it electronically, I noticed another car waiting in the aisle because the lot was full.  They were planning to take the next open space and the driver looked at me hopefully.  I signaled that I wasn’t leaving yet but wasn’t sure she understood and was a little worried that she would hassle me to hurry up.

When I got to our car I saw that the car to the left had parked very close, so close that I could barely get in.  I had to really squeeze and it caused my door to tap tap tap against the car next to me.  Unfortunately, the driver was still in the car and glared at me as I did this.  So I was a little stressed out between the driver next door and the car waiting for my spot.

I had barely gotten into the car when someone tapped on my window.  I assumed it was the lady who was waiting in the aisle.  “Good grief,” I thought, “this lady must really want my parking spot.”

I quickly explained, in French, that I was waiting for my wife and would be staying in the car for a few more minutes. I felt a little proud of myself to be able to do this spontaneously.  My French is improving!  

The lady listened, gave me a funny look and said, “Mais monsieur, vous être dans ma voiture” (but sir, you are in my car.)

Merde !  Somehow we had the same style car, had parked near each other and had opened our cars electronically at the same time.  I was distracted and didn’t notice that I was getting into someone else’s car.  The cigarettes and the child’s seat should have been a giveaway.

The lady was very nice and I apologized profusely, but it was still very embarrassing.  The only good part was that it was much easier to get out of the car, now that I felt about six inches tall.

KVS