I just attended my first ever Hanukkah party. The circumstances are not what you would expect. Read on.
Let's rewind a few hours. It is 2:30 pm and I have just arrived at Starbucks. I am excited because the parking lot isn't that full, which means that there should be a table available inside (hopefully near a wall outlet because my laptop battery doesn't last as long as it should these days) and it means that I can park nice and close to the store. I park and go inside.
So I get my frappuccino and a table by an outlet. Score. Time passes fairly uneventfully. I see some of my students, which is a nice surprise, and I get a ton of work done, which is great. It is now 6:02 pm, and I pack my things up, say goodbye to my students, and head out the door.
At first I didn't even notice it. A woman near the door was typing on her cell phone, and I was busy contemplating whether she would be done soon or not and if I should wait and hold the door open for her. I conclude that she'll be a while. That's when I see.
My car is surrounded by Hanukkah revelers. There is a party going on in the Starbucks parking lot! And that great parking spot I attained earlier is now right next to the giant ice sculpture of a menorah, a DJ booth set up and is surrounded by about 50 party guests.
What am I going to do?
I walk up to the man who looks like the DJ, and point to my car, which is right, and I mean right next to his speaker equipment. The speaker is so close to my car that I am worried that when I back up my mirror might hit it. Never mind that behind my car are all those people!
I ask if he can make announcement to the guests letting them know to move out of the way so I can back up. He says no but that I can make the announcement if I want to. (!) He says that I could say hello to everyone and let them know that I need to move my car. I am slightly freaking out inside, talking to a group of strangers on a microphone, backing up into this crowd of people, which includes small children, these are not a few of my favorite things. Add in the fact that I wouldn't say that I am overly confident in my backing up skills, and I am petrified that all of these people are going to watch me, and I am alarmed that the possibility of my running over a small child is way too high right now.
I decline his offer to make a public announcement, but he then offers to assist me by standing behind the car and directing traffic. Thank goodness!
Right when I start to back up, another car decides to leave as well. So I am stuck in this limbo for what seems like an eternity, with all those eyes on me. Finally the other car successfully leaves the party and it is my turn.
I put the car in reverse, roll down the window, I am not really sure why, the Hanukkah music that comes streaming into my car really doesn't help with my concentration, and begin backing up into the crowd. I inch backward, every moment afraid that I will run over a small child or collide with the giant ice menorah.
Mercifully, the crowd parts and I am able to reverse far enough that I can make a turn to go to the exit. A nice man gives me some Kosher chocolate coins for my trouble and wishes me a good night.
Let's rewind a few hours. It is 2:30 pm and I have just arrived at Starbucks. I am excited because the parking lot isn't that full, which means that there should be a table available inside (hopefully near a wall outlet because my laptop battery doesn't last as long as it should these days) and it means that I can park nice and close to the store. I park and go inside.
So I get my frappuccino and a table by an outlet. Score. Time passes fairly uneventfully. I see some of my students, which is a nice surprise, and I get a ton of work done, which is great. It is now 6:02 pm, and I pack my things up, say goodbye to my students, and head out the door.
At first I didn't even notice it. A woman near the door was typing on her cell phone, and I was busy contemplating whether she would be done soon or not and if I should wait and hold the door open for her. I conclude that she'll be a while. That's when I see.
My car is surrounded by Hanukkah revelers. There is a party going on in the Starbucks parking lot! And that great parking spot I attained earlier is now right next to the giant ice sculpture of a menorah, a DJ booth set up and is surrounded by about 50 party guests.
What am I going to do?
I walk up to the man who looks like the DJ, and point to my car, which is right, and I mean right next to his speaker equipment. The speaker is so close to my car that I am worried that when I back up my mirror might hit it. Never mind that behind my car are all those people!
I ask if he can make announcement to the guests letting them know to move out of the way so I can back up. He says no but that I can make the announcement if I want to. (!) He says that I could say hello to everyone and let them know that I need to move my car. I am slightly freaking out inside, talking to a group of strangers on a microphone, backing up into this crowd of people, which includes small children, these are not a few of my favorite things. Add in the fact that I wouldn't say that I am overly confident in my backing up skills, and I am petrified that all of these people are going to watch me, and I am alarmed that the possibility of my running over a small child is way too high right now.
I decline his offer to make a public announcement, but he then offers to assist me by standing behind the car and directing traffic. Thank goodness!
Right when I start to back up, another car decides to leave as well. So I am stuck in this limbo for what seems like an eternity, with all those eyes on me. Finally the other car successfully leaves the party and it is my turn.
I put the car in reverse, roll down the window, I am not really sure why, the Hanukkah music that comes streaming into my car really doesn't help with my concentration, and begin backing up into the crowd. I inch backward, every moment afraid that I will run over a small child or collide with the giant ice menorah.
Mercifully, the crowd parts and I am able to reverse far enough that I can make a turn to go to the exit. A nice man gives me some Kosher chocolate coins for my trouble and wishes me a good night.
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