From off the Parkway to back in my car on the way home in 15 minutes -- must be close to a record.

I exited the highway after driving from Jersey City, went over to the Grove, a local shopping center (strip mall) with stores like Starbucks and Eddie Bauer and Victoria's Secret. It's always packed during the holiday shopping season, and today was no different. I pulled in and saw all the spaces even out by the road filled. I turned left from the entrance road into the smaller of the two parking sections but the one closer to Williams-Sonoma. As I turned down my second row of cars, a minivan pulled out of a spot and I took it. I walked into Williams-Sonoma, asked a free cashier for the set of Harvest Market glasses I'd called about the day before and had them set aside because Casey will give me extra lovin' if I can get them for her since they're sold out of every store in New York and the catalog warehouse too. The saleswoman went back, came out with the box, rung me up, and I went back out to my car.

As I pulled out, someone had the same good fortune of passing and taking the parking place, and I exited through the less-crowded exit and was home two minutes later.

Just one little example of an overall good day.