CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 13 I told my husband that I had half a mind to post a nasty message to the Fayetteville Soccer Club Facebook page warning the hit- and-run offender of legal action if we were able to identify them through parking lot camera footage before they came forward to confess and agree to pay to repair our vehicle. But, my always level-headed and ever- forgiving spouse (who I imagine was also a little terrified of the idea of his "spirited" wife stopping parking lot traffic to perform a citizen's arrest in full view of the entire Little Kickers soccer team) told me to just let it go. I am honestly still seething over that incident and maybe one day will learn to give as much grace as my husband can. Although I've seen my fair share of folks ditch their carts or their trash in the middle of a parking lot, hit the gas to cut in and steal a prime spot from a person patiently waiting with their blinker on, undeservingly use a space intended for someone with a handicapped tag, and have been at the receiving end of several unfortunate parking lot hit-and-runs over the years, I've also witnessed a young mother with a newborn I'd like to suggest that parking lots really are microcosms of humanity. How we behave in them says a lot about how we conduct ourselves in general, and even what our core values are. Claire Mullen can be reached at clairejlmullen@gmail.com (particularly if you would like to confess to an incident involving a certain innocent 4Runner). strapped to her front sprint her buggy to the cart return in pouring rain while also pulling a toddler by the hand. I've been that mother, struggling to wrangle two children and groceries into the car and had strangers offer to return my empty cart. I've seen a teenage boy stop in his tracks to help an elderly woman load her bags. I've watched my own 7-year-old pick up a discarded empty plastic bottle from the pavement and take it to its rightful place in the outdoor recycling bin. At the risk of sounding a little melo- dramatic, I'd like to suggest that parking lots really are microcosms of humanity. How we behave in them says a lot about how we conduct ourselves in general, and even what our core values are. Do we expect someone else to come behind us and clean up our mess? Do we put our own comfort before someone more in need? Is it difficult to admit when we make a mistake and accept the consequences that follow? Oentimes, yes. But on the bright side, do we have the ability to take care of our own responsibilities while also looking around for ways to help others? Can we appreciate our good health and forego our own minor conveniences for those who may need them in major ways? Can we own up to our mistakes and learn valuable lessons from them? Always, yes. And we can all start by putting our shopping carts back where they dang well belong.

• Cover