Parking Lots
Me: “WordPress and I have continuing disagreements about
the sizes and positions of graphics.
I am comfortable with imperfection.”
My Bad Parking
May 20, 2023
I drove to a small grocery store and parked right next to the building. I parked a little too wide because the space was next to a tent with hanging plants. I saw my tires on the line, but told myself I would be quick.
When I came out a few minutes later, people were getting out of their car on the other side of the parking space I had blocked.
Me: “I didn’t park very well.”
Other Customer: “It happens.”
Me: “It happens more in the winter when there’s snow on the ground than in the spring .”
Other Customer: “You lost that excuse!”
We laughed.
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Positivity
Humor
Influence
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Fun Grandma
May 3, 2024
I saw a grandma drive into the lot in a PC Cruiser convertible. A small boy sat in the back seat. I approached the car.
Me: “You’re a lucky boy to be riding around in a convertible with your grandma. You have a fun grandma.”
Grandma: “He’s a fun grandson. This is my fun car.”
Me: “I’m happy that other people can see a grandma driving a fun car.”
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Driving a fun car
Influence
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Motorcycles
June 9, 2024
As I approached my car, a white haired man with a mustache was getting ready to put his helmet on before riding his motorcycle.
Me: “When I was 25, I had a motorcycle boyfriend.”
Motorcycle Man: “My wife used to ride with me, but now she has medical problems. I can take only short motorcycle rides alone. I’m trying to talk her into getting a convertible or jeep, but she keeps saying she’d be too cold. I keep pointing out that she rode the motorcycle for years.”
Me: “Remind her that you would be riding in an open car together.”
He smiled.
I hope she listens.
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Wanting to spend time with his wife
Wanting to continue his favorite activity with her
Steadiness
Kurt and I met in May and he told me right away that he was moving to San Diego in November.
We were too different to maintain a long term relationship,
but we had a lot of fun that summer, my motorcycle summer.
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Appreciated Compliment
July 23, 2024
Coming out of the thrift store, I walked past a group of 6 older women.
Me: “I see fashionable older women shop here!”
Woman: “I take that as a compliment!”
Me: “It is a compliment. We know how to shop!”
Laughter and agreement.
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Positivity
Humor
Influence
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Dangerous Working Condition
August 2, 2024
As I was walking towards the grocery store, I passed a young man struggling to push 19 carts (I counted) towards the store.
Me: “Do you normally push that many carts?”
Young Man: “No. I’m only supposed to push 8.”
Me: “Why are you pushing so many?”
Young Man: “Because we’re behind.”
Me: “I hope you don’t hurt yourself.”
DISC Behavior Style Clue
Loyalty to the job
Steadiness
I wrote a Google review for the store about the incident,
saying that if I ever see it again, I will file a report with OSHA.
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Sleep
October 17, 2024
Waiting outside my granddaughter’s school, I saw a woman yawn big, arms over her head big. I walked up to her.
Me: “When do you get to sleep next?”
Woman: “I mostly seep well, but I’ve been taking naps lately and I seem to be more tired taking naps.”
Me: “If I nap every day, I have trouble sleeping at night.”
Woman: “My best days are when I sleep 7 hours at night without naps.”
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Asking For A Cop Stop?
February 27, 2025
Walking past a big pickup truck, I noticed the rear license plate was upside down. I stopped to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. Yep! Upside down.
I pointed out the upside down license plate to a man walking up behind me. He stopped and looked at it in shock.
Man: “That’s a good way to get pulled over!”
The man did what I hadn’t thought to do. He checked the front license plate.
Man: “The front plate is right side up!”
We laughed.
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Humor
Curiosity
Influence
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Widows Supporting Each Other
February 27, 2025
As I walked towards the store on a windy day, I came near to a woman also walking towards the store.
Woman: “Getting into the store will be easier than getting back to our cars.”
Me: “It will.”
Woman: “My husband died in the last year.”
Me: “I’m a widow, too.”
We discussed staying single instead of getting married again. Our choices.
We hugged before we parted.
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Starting a conversation
Emotional openness
Determination to stay independent
Friendliness
Initiating hugs
Influence
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Liking Big Cars
March 3, 2025
I approached a woman who was probably in her 80s as she prepared to get into an SUV.
Me: “It’s fun to see old ladies driving big cars!”
Old Lady SUV Driver: “I like big cars. I had to sell a pickup truck when my husband died. I really liked driving that pickup, but getting into it was getting harder, so I sold it. I feel better in big cars. I see old ladies driving big cars and trucks all the time.”
Me: “I grew up in the Chicago area where old ladies didn’t drive big cars or pickups.”
Old Lady SUV Driver: “I get it.”
So did I. I own an SUV, but it’s a small one with good gas mileage. Rural living often requires larger vehicles.
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Thoughtless Motorcyclists
August 13, 2025
Walking toward a restaurant, I saw a van in a handicapped parking space with the diagonal lines next to it. A woman was helping a man wheel his chair out of the van’s side door.
Me: “Are you ever blocked?”
Man: “Not often. It’s mostly motorcycles, not cars.”
Woman: “The big motorcycles block access just like cars do.”
Me: “That’s terrible!”
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Pleasant Hellos
September 11, 2025
Walking between cars, I saw a woman closing her back car door. Her license plate had a name.
Me pointing at the license plate: “Are you J———?”
J——– smiling: “Yes.”
Me: “Hi, J——–. I’m Paula.”
J——–: “Hi, Paula.”
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Ignorant Driver
September 16, 2025
I was walking to my car from the store while another woman was approaching the store. Each of us were partially in the driving lane when a woman driver weaved between us. After the car passed, I approached the other woman.
Me: “Apparently, that driver doesn’t know that pedestrians have the right of way!”
Woman reaching out to touch my hand: “I know! I was thinking the same thing!”
DISC Behavior Style Clue
Touching a stranger to express agreement
Influence
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Grandchildren Word
September 27, 2025
I pulled through an empty space to park in the space in front so I could pull forward when I was ready to leave.
A big pickup truck pulled in right behind me. I noticed the license plate said “Papa—” The male driver with silver in his hair immediately started a conversation about the unusually warm weather.
Me: “I think that when the temperature finally drops, it will go way down.”
Driver: “I saw a sign that said enjoy the fall colors now because the next color you see will be white.”
Me: “What does ‘Papa—’ mean, on your license plate?
Driver: “My name is ——–. I go by — instead of —–. My grandchildren call me Papa—”
Me: “I like that!”
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Friendly
Initiating conversation
Influence
Suddenly, Driver went from friendly to rude.
He started walking fast to get ahead of me and into the store first.
Why would he do that?
1st, he missed the compliment too many men miss,
meaning he missed the clues of friendliness.
2nd, he made the mistake of thinking all women want romantic relationships.
I am happily single and working on the career I couldn’t have
while I was recovering from PTSD from a horrific childhood
and a misdiagnosed childhood spinal injury.
I had the romance I wanted with my late husband
so now I’m putting my energy into career satisfaction.
I entered local politics.
In my first 6 months as village trustee,
I established connections with
a representative for a national politician
and the secretary’s director of a state agency.
I’m 74 and sailing with my soft skill power strategies!
No romance for me,
just friendly conversations.
After Driver sped up,
I called after him to wish him a good day.
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© Paula M. Kramer, 2025
All rights reserved.
Updated October 24, 2025.