Sometimes we all get performance anxiety in key situations. In the bedroom, during sports or for me, when I park the car.

I used to be a master parallel parker. When I lived in Minnesota, I would park on the street (summer and winter) and I always parallel parked my car. I could get into any spot I knew would fit my adorable Honda Civic and I wore that pride like a badge of honor.

Fast forward to living in Chicago where I don’t have a car or drive regularly. I used to always think I would forget how to drive but fortunately that’s not the case. Unfortunately, I do forget how to parallel park.

It’s so sad to watch me do it too, fumbling around, getting frustrated and making squeaking/grunting noises when I don’t turn the wheel soon enough. Embarrassing.

Now when I park and people are in the car with me. I immediately turn and apologize to them because they’re about to witness something awful. I usually try to park it in 1-2 tries and then give up. I’ll even park further away from my location just so I can angle or straight park. Sad.

I bring this up because last weekend my co-worker/buddy Lizz and I went out for drinks and I drove. And had to park. And I was so nervous because it was the first time we’ve hung out together outside of work and she would have to witness my private shame. I didn’t think my wit and charm would save me on that one.

And the second time a parking situation came  up, I apologized again and began to try and park. FAIL. But rather than get embarrassed, she talked me through it and amazingly I got that car in perfectly. I was shocked. And then I made her hug it out.

It was beautiful.

I may never be able to do that again, but damn I did a good job (with great help).

So what part of driving do you always have trouble with? Parking? Y-turns? Or if you live in a big city do you find that you are more or less aggressive than when you drove regularly?

Cake love: Thanks everyone for the tip on getting the cake recipe! I will be calling and emailing them today to see if they will share it with me. And if so, I think there’s a cake post in my future!