Moments D572: Parking Ticket

Why on earth would I list a parking ticket as a moment that made me smile?

Well, it's a good tale.

Tonight EQ & I met up with Archie & Comic Guy at Arizona's place for dinner.  She had a dinner party to spend some time with EQ before he heads back to SoCal.  Arizona had her best friend join us, so we were a table of six enjoying a delightfully home cooked meal.  We spent the entire evening swapping stories followed by much laughter.  It was, truly, a perfect evening.  

Those of us who drove were somewhat concerned at getting a parking ticket.  (After midnight, in most areas of the city, parking on the streets requires a permit.).  We thought we would play it safe and said our goodbyes around 12:15 am.  When we walked up to the car, it was plain as day that a ticket had already been issued.  {sigh}  The ticket, for $30, was issued at 12:08 am.    

For the briefest of moments I paused and a thought flickered.  EQ & I would have easily spent more than $30 going out for the tasty dinner that we enjoyed tonight.  The fact that we were able to enjoy the home cooked, love infused food prepared by Arizona at the cost of a $30 ticket seemed highly under valued.

And so, I smiled as I pulled the ticket from under my windshield wiper.  A good deal after all.

Crazy?  Ya maybe.  But life's too short.

Moments flipping perceptions around.

Moments finding the silver lining.