Bonny, I hope you find an adorable new companion, and that you can let the unwarranted guilt go.

Eep! I just corrected a former teacher on facebook after she complained that she saw someone park in a handicapped space with a valid plate and then worked out for a half hour. I essentially said that people with disabilities do still work out for a variety of reasons and she may not fully understand the circumstances. I've had enough people give me questioning looks over the years before I even have time to get out of my car that it is a big issue with me.

Ha, Hubby's got the handicapped card, and he goes to the gym regularly. Of course, anyone who sees him moving--or trying to move--after a workout would know why he has the card.

I can't decide who I hate more in that conversation...dicks who use parking spaces they shouldn't, or self-righteous parking space vigilantes.(The dicks get fined, at least) (I'm sure there's plenty of ire to go around, actually.)

erika, I hate people that use the plates illegally too, but I hate the people that question people more. You have no idea what that person's life is like. My plate has my picture right on it, so it is easy to discern if it is being used legally or not.

Any of the times I'd have been eligible for disabled parking I'd also have been doing physical therapy, either alone or with a PT. Now, if you see me rock climbing at Joshua Tree, your eyebrows might validly be raised, but seriously--think the scenarios through before you get all reactionary.

A 15-minute house inspection? She is out of her mind.

Yeah, I get it. Those are always the people first in line for the language debates, too. Uncomfortable ABs anxious to prove what *awesome* allies they are, and you know...they really Get It since they got carpal-tunnel. "You're making my side look stupid...stay off my side." Also, don't try to connect with me by talking about people "gaming the system". Because those neighbors...he's an ex-con, and she had some kind of breakdown...I think they count. Even though they don't look like it.

Bonny, you're getting another dog because Bartleby showed you how wonderful life with a dog can be. It's a tribute to him, not a betrayal. Besides, one of the things dogs want most is for their people to be happy.

The Y I go to has many handicapped spaces, because a lot of people use the weight machines, the pool, the cardio machines and some classes for rehab.

Maria,

much 'ma headed for you today. Sorry I wasn't here to wish you 'ma and hugs yesterday, but sending them out today figuring you could do with good vibes, virtual hugs today as well.

The one and only time I've been a parking spot vigilante was when it was an SUV with not just a not obviously handicapped driver but no plate, no placard, no sticker, no nothing visible at all, in a 20-car parking lot where the 18 non-handicapped places had been full for at least 20 minutes (which I knew because the SUV driver and I had both been pulling in and out of the parking lot and circling the block for 20 minutes).

Having spent part of my 20s ferrying my severely Parkinsonian grandmother around and having to circle many blocks many times because assholes with no plates, placards or stickers had given up on legal parking and pulled in to just run a quick errand, I had no compunction about getting this shop owner to call DPT on this person.

But if someone actually has the plate, placard, sticker? I shut my face way the fuck up; I know too many people with severe but not-obviously-visible disabilities to feel like I'd be anything but the world's most colossal raging asshole to challenge those people based on looking at them for all of about two seconds.