I wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper.

It's that time of year again when I can look out my window and see a row of cars along my street and on every spare foot of pavement around Woodward Elementary.

Sometimes, those spare feet of pavement that people think they can park on stretch over my driveway -- or, in some cases, actually into the driveway. I've come home around 3 p.m. or tried to leave my home around the same time and found it impossible. Someone has parallel parked themselves right in front of me, and I can't get out. Or, someone is parked right in my driveway and I can't squeeze back in.

We all expect courtesy when it comes to parking and the roads. If someone parks over the line at the grocery store, we grumble as we wedge ourselves out the driver's side door. If someone's bumper encroaches upon our driveway, we almost try to hit them as we're backing out. If someone cuts over a few lanes suddenly to get to an exit, we call them stupid.

But somehow, we don't always think these courtesy rules apply to us. I'm just running in to Kroger for some apples; people can live with this crappy park job. I'm just running in to my dorm to get my wallet; it's unfair that I get a ticket for parking in the reserved spot. I'm going to be late; I need to claim this intersection and almost run that red light. I'm just getting my kid from school; why can't I park here in front of this driveway?

We forgo these common courtesy rules so that our lives can be just a little easier, for just a few minutes. We tell ourselves that our neighbors can live with it for a bit so we can go about our business without walking a few extra steps or waiting a few extra minutes. And then we turn around and get mad when other folks do the same thing.

Me, I know I'm not perfect. My Corolla has gotten several tickets at Ohio Wesleyan because, as a student, I just didn't want to buy that parking pass -- but I still tried to park in the school lots because I was inevitably late and didn't have time to hoof it from a further distance.

Parents at Woodward, your kids can wait. If there is anything our young people have learned from their parents, it's how to be impatient. They can take a few extra steps to find your car.

And don't be too surprised if I start charging for parking when I need to get somewhere.