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You park your car in the lot at the grocery. As you walk to the door you notice an old family acquaintance has just parked his car in the handicapped space on the other side of your row. Rear ends of the cars pointing toward each other. He's walking ahead and doesn't see you. (By the way, we know of no reason he should be designated "handicapped".)

You are in the store a matter of a few short minutes. When you return, everything is as you left it with the exception of two things. His is the only car that has left and there is a dent in your bumper exactly where he would have backed up to turn and go.

There are no surveillance cameras in the lot.

Love, Ima
PS He's a Tarheel fan if that matters at all. Very friendly guy, but a Tarheel just the same.

Bless his heart, I'd ask him to pay for my repairs. And ask him about his infirmity since he needed to get a handicap sticker (assuming he has one now...)

Can't be absolutely positive he did it. I guess we could just ask him if he saw anything and see if he fesses up. Fat chance. Wish I were more confrontational.
Love, Ima

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:Can't be absolutely positive he did it. I guess we could just ask him if he saw anything and see if he fesses up. Fat chance. Wish I were more confrontational.
Love, Ima

Call windsor.

Why doesn't the store have surveillance video of the parking lot? Have you talked to the manager about this? The horse is out of the barn for you, but the store needs to install cameras for safety purposes, to forestall litigation, and lots of other reasons.

If you aren't certain he did it, I wouldn't confront him, but I would ask him if he saw anything when he came out, and see how he reacts. If he's a good person, he very well may fess up once he no longer thinks the car he backed into belonged to a nameless person, but belonged in fact to someone he knows.

devildeac wrote:

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:Can't be absolutely positive he did it. I guess we could just ask him if he saw anything and see if he fesses up. Fat chance. Wish I were more confrontational.
Love, Ima

Call windsor.

Someone call?

I this case, lacking evidence...I would have to go with the 'did he see anything' routine. He might just fess up...if not you can't prove it was him. Assuming he doesn't confess I'd have a prepared "just thought I'd ask...people have no manners anymore...I certainly couldn't hit another car without leaving a note or trying to find the drive...I know YOU wouldn't...sigh...looks like we're out XX dollars." Even if I couldn't collect for the damages I would at least try to pack his bags for a guilt trip.

Failing that I would go to his home and attack his car with a sledge hammer ....

windsor wrote:

devildeac wrote:

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:Can't be absolutely positive he did it. I guess we could just ask him if he saw anything and see if he fesses up. Fat chance. Wish I were more confrontational.
Love, Ima

Call windsor.

Someone call?

I this case, lacking evidence...I would have to go with the 'did he see anything' routine. He might just fess up...if not you can't prove it was him. Assuming he doesn't confess I'd have a prepared "just thought I'd ask...people have no manners anymore...I certainly couldn't hit another car without leaving a note or trying to find the drive...I know YOU wouldn't...sigh...looks like we're out XX dollars." Even if I couldn't collect for the damages I would at least try to pack his bags for a guilt trip.

Failing that I would go to his home and attack his car with a sledge hammer ....

I knew we could count on windsor for a sane and rational response with complete justice in mind. And, failing that, simple, unmitigated revenge. ;)

Fortified with a spiked egg nog, I just phoned his house. Got the answering machine (whew) and laid it on pretty thick. Told him how sorry I was feeling for Sarah since she's lost most everything with all her medical costs and had just made the final payment on her car this month. What a shame this happened to her now. And that she saw his car parked in the handicapped space and we wondered if he had seen anything at all that might help her find the other driver.

Now, when the egg nog wears off I might, out of curiosity, drive past his office to check out the condition of his bumper.
Love, Ima
PS I do happen to own a trusty sledge! (Get thee behind me, Satan.)

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:PS I do happen to own a trusty sledge! (Get thee behind me, Satan.)

Get thee behind me..in case my arms get tired and I need you to take a couple swings....

@ Windsor: From what is that quotation you have in your sig? I love it but can't place it.
Love, Ima

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:Fortified with a spiked egg nog, I just phoned his house. Got the answering machine (whew) and laid it on pretty thick. Told him how sorry I was feeling for Sarah since she's lost most everything with all her medical costs and had just made the final payment on her car this month. What a shame this happened to her now. And that she saw his car parked in the handicapped space and we wondered if he had seen anything at all that might help her find the other driver.

Now, when the egg nog wears off I might, out of curiosity, drive past his office to check out the condition of his bumper.
Love, Ima
PS I do happen to own a trusty sledge! (Get thee behind me, Satan.)

Well done! You chose just the right way to present the situation.

I want to know what you see when you check out his bumper.

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:Fortified with a spiked egg nog, I just phoned his house. Got the answering machine (whew) and laid it on pretty thick. Told him how sorry I was feeling for Sarah since she's lost most everything with all her medical costs and had just made the final payment on her car this month. What a shame this happened to her now. And that she saw his car parked in the handicapped space and we wondered if he had seen anything at all that might help her find the other driver.

Now, when the egg nog wears off I might, out of curiosity, drive past his office to check out the condition of his bumper.
Love, Ima
PS I do happen to own a trusty sledge! (Get thee behind me, Satan.)

This is terrific! I need to borrow your spiked egg nog (and maybe you!) sometimes when my witnesses aren't too compelling, to have someone that a jury will actually love and feel sorry for.

Keep us posted. And since B and I are now gym rats, we can swing a sledgehammer with the best of our age groups, too!

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:@ Windsor: From what is that quotation you have in your sig? I love it but can't place it.
Love, Ima

It is from Leonard Cohen's Anthem

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government --
signs for all to see.

I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

Ring the bells that still can ring ...

You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.

Thank you, Windsor. Very uplifting in many ways. You just gave me some Christmas Spirit back.
Love, Ima

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:Thank you, Windsor. Very uplifting in many ways. You just gave me some Christmas Spirit back.
Love, Ima

I'm glad I could give you some of your Christmas Spirit back!

I love Cohen's lyrics...not so wild about his voice though. Hallelujah is one of my all time favorites.

windsor wrote:

devildeac wrote:

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:Can't be absolutely positive he did it. I guess we could just ask him if he saw anything and see if he fesses up. Fat chance. Wish I were more confrontational.
Love, Ima

Call windsor.

Someone call?

I this case, lacking evidence...I would have to go with the 'did he see anything' routine. He might just fess up...if not you can't prove it was him. Assuming he doesn't confess I'd have a prepared "just thought I'd ask...people have no manners anymore...I certainly couldn't hit another car without leaving a note or trying to find the drive...I know YOU wouldn't...sigh...looks like we're out XX dollars." Even if I couldn't collect for the damages I would at least try to pack his bags for a guilt trip.

Failing that I would go to his home and attack his car with a sledge hammer ....

Good answer!

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:Fortified with a spiked egg nog, I just phoned his house. Got the answering machine (whew) and laid it on pretty thick. Told him how sorry I was feeling for Sarah since she's lost most everything with all her medical costs and had just made the final payment on her car this month. What a shame this happened to her now. And that she saw his car parked in the handicapped space and we wondered if he had seen anything at all that might help her find the other driver.

Now, when the egg nog wears off I might, out of curiosity, drive past his office to check out the condition of his bumper.
Love, Ima
PS I do happen to own a trusty sledge! (Get thee behind me, Satan.)

Nicely done, Ima!

A day has passed. Have you heard from your neighbor?

He called. Said he couldn't shed any light on the incident. At the end of the conversation I inquired as to his disability requiring the handicapped parking space. He said nothing was wrong except his knees act up once in a while, so when he sees one of those spots that "appear to not be needed" he just uses it.
I just crossed him off of my "GGEIAT" * list.
He's just a garden variety jerk, bless his heart.

Love, Ima

* "Good guy even if a tarheel"

I'd still follow up with a visual check on his rear bumper.