I was expecting a normal day but I must say things were a little chaotic today.
Act 1
11:49: Amy and Nora are pulling out of the CVE driveway, right on time!
11:56: Nora gets out at her daughter's school. Amy continues and pulls in early 2 minutes early at Aaron's kindergarten (11:58), getting a great parking spot.
12:05: Amy waits outside the gate with the other parents as kindergarten goes long. Amy is worried because José's school is a school for children with special needs and the staff there equivocate late arrival of parents and child abuse.
12:08: Parents can enter and then wait in line at their child's classroom and wait for their child in what feels like a child auction. (Lots of yelling and chaos, shouted instructions for the parents for the next day)
12:10: Aaron and Amy jump into van and realize they are *parked/blocked* in as they don't want to back over small children and young mothers.
Finally they break free from the chaos and Aaron proceeds to use his intelligence to question about every person, place and thing we pass and proves that I really don't know much. How can a five-year old stump Amy every time?
Act 2
12:17: Five minutes late for José, he stands looking dejected on the sidewalk as the crosswalk guard reassures him someone is coming for him.
12:18: José is sleeping on the front seat.
Act 3
12:34: Pull up at San Ignacio, 4 minutes late. Fortunately, school has also gone long at the elementary. Amy sits and waits with the other mothers.
12:48: Having made the rounds of the teachers, Amy gets to van, counts the children and realizes she is short one and enters the school yard to find the prodigal.
12:50: Amy finds that she was actually short two children and sends them to the van. In an unexpected turn of events, the principal catches her and wants to talk.
1:01: Crossing the school yard, she sees the van parked in the distance with children everywhere, running and screaming and jumping up and down.
Amy to Crosswalk Señor: (tone of frustration)Who takes care of those kids anyway?
Crosswalk Señor: (laughing) I am not sure, but if you see her, tell her to hurry out to the van as it seems to me that the kids have decided to flip over the van.
1:02: All children properly scolded and quietly sitting in the van...that won't start.
Children: Aah, aah! The van won't start!!! (while Amy prays)
1:03: The van starts and we are bound for home. Whew. 
**After asking for input, some of the staffers close by are having a discussion about what word to use to convey "unable to move because other cars have parked in a way that leaves little room for manuever." By discussion that basically means Carissa and David are telling me that I must be completely stupid and no one would ever use "parked" in. I have decided to be stubborn and insist you could use the phrase "parked in." Seth thinks you can, Denise says it is weird (making it not just a Bluffton regionalism.) Would you use the word "parked" in or "blocked" in?
25 comments:
Great post, Amy. :)
But "stubborn"?? Surely not! ...just "persistent." ;)
Te quiero Amy!
Much to my dismay, it certainly appears that the formerly well thought of Illini education system seems sadly wanting...of course one can be "parked in".
Dad
Neither in my case would be used... I would have just moved 1 of the vehicle's and then vamonos be gone!!!! because in mexico if the car run's. the keys r usually in it.
great post ame's
bash <><
hey ami!
what fun follows the white van :)
I would have to go with denise-- I think 'parked in' sounds weird and would use 'blocked in'...
love you!
Sorry, I think you should use "blocked" in
Based on the idea that "park" or "parked" has a pleasant or possibly orderly connotation to most Illini, "blocked-in" implies at least a tinge of frustration common to some Hoosiers attempting to park in Mexico.
Of course, from a Christian perspective, we find joy and meaning no matter what park we are in. Another Dad
Heather, I thought we were friends. ;)
love,amy
Amy
I totally support you.
There are many times that I have been "parked in" here in Mexico.
But, all was okay, because I just put the "foolers" in the kids' mouth and watched the "willyworms" come out of hiding. We were on our way to the "call" to drink some "pop" and eat "cheese toasties". Maybe us "krauts" from Bluffton should just stay in the black hole if people do not like the way we talk!
Stay strong, Amy, even though others are making fun of your talking. I understand it :)
To all hoosiers and boilermakers:
According to Webster:
Parked: to put or leave (a vehicle) temporarily in a space set aside for this purpose
Blocked:to cause obstruction in, to prevent the passage of, to make difficult or impossible, put obstacles in the way of
Since the purpose was to move, then you would have had to have been blocked in. If the purpose was to stay put than maybe you could use parked in but someone with an Illinois education would not use that term. That is more of a Tennessee phrase.
Glad I could clarify this for y'all
If you're "snowed in" you can't go anywhere because of the snow.... so if you are "parked in" you can't go anywhere because of the poor parking of others. As for "blocked in", it makes me think of a little lego car that has been blocked in by a lincoln log. I would definately have to go with "parked in."
Hip, Hip Hurray for Bluffton!
Just saw this post and these comments this morning. Too funny. I think that blocked in leaves too many unexplained details. Parked in, is cars have parked behind you. :)
Have a great day! It's fun to read everyone's comments.
Love,
Teresa
parked in of course
Blocked in is definately the term to use here, and according to someone that knows and my grandfather, Webster, it's proper English as well.
Wilbur
Amy,
I was so intrigued at how you got all those places and kept track of all those kids..I never even noticed the "parked" business. You are amazing..as is the rest of the staff down there and we are praying for all of you, trusting God to be ever near..whether on the go, parked or parked in..art/twyla
Sorry I'm a little late to add my two cents, but I have to go with "parked in"...but then I'm just another voice from the black hole. By the way Jenna, what's wrong with willyworms?
Maybe the willyworms were parked ON?
lol
I must say I've never heard the phrase "parked in"...but then, I'm from the land of fruits and nuts so what do I know? Maybe I can borrow the phrase and start some new slang.
Thanks to all for their brilliant comments. I feel like we all won, because many from Bluffton have affirmed that "parked in" is as normal as eating "cheese toasties" instead of "grilled cheese."
Just one more lesson on being sensitive to the various other cultures around us. :)
yes, amy, i agree, we all won...
...except for the dumb people who would not say "parked in"
If I might add a small comment to this already bloated comment box, I would offer my meager suggestion that "parked in" and "blocked in" have two slightly different connotations.
For example, if someone has double parked on the side of the road (parked alongside another car), the other car is parked in (and they are blocked from the road.
But if someone is in a situation where parking is not possible or not expected, the other car would be blocked in (even if the offending vehicle is parked).
Hopefully that makes some sense, though it might just be because I tend to think of domestic vehicles as parking (trucks, cars, etc...) whereas larger obstacles block one in (tractors, an angry woman, an avalanche, etc...). Obviously the latter group of obstacles are a more substantial and wouldn't have the ordered nature I would expect from parking.
Oh...and may the glory of Bluffton live on forever. Huzzah!
Amy, I really thought it was "blocked in", until I went to a shower Saturday, and parked along the driveway talking to myself, and realized I said, "I hope I don't get parked in". I think both are acceptable, but if you park, you are parked in, the the other guy blocks you in.
Love you,
Grandma
Nick and Grandma,
I am so sad your comments weren't posted until later, because they beautifully illustrate the point. ;)
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