Parking Tickets

For twenty-two years and almost 5 months, I have been raised by two incredible people - Mary Linn and Mark Dulan. I sit on my bed on this Tuesday afternoon, naked, with the windows open and cars and bus's zooming every so often down below. A half done, four foot painting stares at me from the corner of my studio apartment, whispering,

"thesis, thesis, thesis." 

I graduate in May. A turbulent two year relationship looms in the back of my mind.
Anxiety is a bitch.
Despite all of the quiet, yet extremely important things going on in my life at this moment, I clear my brain to thank the universe for my mother and father. If it wasn't for their undying support, I am not sure if I would be sitting her, in my studio apartment, in Milwaukee. You see, my parents have taught me many things and they have taught me in a very specific way. For example:
I had the worst day of my life three days ago. My father called me later in the day and immediately knew something was wrong by the sound of my voice. I began telling him about how Scott and I argued all night, how my manager only scheduled me on for the entire day, how the restaurant was SO BUSY, how I thought it was pay day - but it wasn't, and now I only have .40 to my name, how I got two parking tickets...and my father stops me right there - mid-complaint - and says,

"TWO parking tickets?! Cari common' How could you let that happen?!"

 I flip on him.

"Did you NOT just hear my day?! THAT is HOW it happened! EVERYTHING went to hell on me - weren't you listening?!"

He responds,

"and there was NO ONE you could CALL for HELP?"

At that second I know he is right. I am humbled and disappointed. My father knows I could get through all the rest of the things I was telling him - the relationship issues, work being busy, having no money. But when it comes to something in my control, a responsibility I have, I need to take care of it - even if that means asking for someones help. He knows I try to play super woman way too often. He knows, just like him, I have pride as thick as leather. But he knows how those attributes can get in the way of simple things like moving the vehicle so I don't get a ticket for $50. And it's a simple fix - simple, but not always easy.