Font ResizeQ A belated response to your column on finding your car in the parking lot. A few weeks ago my husband and I drove our brand new Prius v to Palo Alto to go to Theaterworks. He's handicapped, so I dropped him off at the door and went to park the car, making careful note of just where I'd left it. After the play, I got the car, which was just where I expected it to be.
Priscilla Peters
Scotts Valley
A So far, so good.
Q When I reached my husband, he looked at the car and said that's not our car. I said of course it's our car. He said, honey, there's a child seat in the back.
Priscilla Peters
A Now, we have a problem that has never been brought to Roadshow's attention in 21 years. The couple has no child seats.
Q I totally panicked and got the car back as fast as I could to the parking place where I found a family, mother, father and three or four kids standing there looking confused and wondering if their car had been towed. I apologized profusely and they were very nice about it. It was an identical car. We couldn't figure out how I could have gotten in and started it. They said they had not left a key in the car and were going to ask the dealer.
It was all OK. I'm just glad my husband noticed, as I would probably have driven it to Scotts Valley!
Priscilla Peters
Q I want to thank the CHP officer who patiently sat behind me for nearly an hour on the shoulder of Highway 85 recently while we waited next to the sound wall for a tow truck. I felt bad. It seemed a boring waste of his time. But he had a calming effect on traffic, which was most welcome considering the way cars and trucks were blasting by before his arrival.
Bill Gosper
Los Altos Hills
A Bill suffered a flat tire near Fremont Avenue and his spare was off the rim.
A call box operator wisely told him to remain in his car with his seat belt on until the CHP arrived.
Q When I got out to greet him, the CHP officer told me nicely to get back in. I couldn't even see his face, with all the lights he had on. So it seemed awkward to take off in the tow truck without so much as a thank you, but if you print this, maybe he'll see it.
Bill Gosper
A I also failed to get the officer's name, though the CHP posted your email that I forwarded to them. Said-Arturo-the-CHP-Man: "I will also send it to dispatch, since they rarely get to see the compliments coming from the public for the work they do.
Thank your reader for me and let him know it's not a waste of time.
Rather, it's one of the many ways our officers provide service to the citizens of California by preventing a small incident (like a flat tire or disabled vehicle) from turning into a major collision."
Q I'm late on submitting billboards that are or are not interesting, but thought this one funny enough to submit even though it's late. As one drives from California into Oregon, within a short time a billboard comes up just past the border on the Oregon side that says "Welcome to Oregon." Then shortly another billboard comes up that says "Now, go home!" I'm pretty sure I know why these billboards began (started in early 2000s or late 1990s), are you?
R. Lee
A Ah, those Oregonians are just jealous.
Q I was in Chicago a few weeks ago and a local radio station has billboards with Rod Blagojevich bigger than life with the statement: "He Never Listens." Must be tough for comedians to get any work. The politicians are getting all the laughs.
Dave Matuszak
Gilroy
A Stephen Colbert would have great fun with this one.
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5335.
