My car was on one of the eight levels of the parking structure

 I remembered to get my parking stub validated. Super. I felt great thinking of all the money I’d saved as I walked to the elevator that takes you to the parking levels.

Ohhhh – no! I forgot to remember what level I parked on. Totally forgot. I always remember. Not today.    

What’m I going to do? This is a twenty-four story building. Whew! Only eight parking levels. Only eight? That’s a lot when you don’t know which one’s holding your car.

I closed my eyes and tried to visualize the level number. All I could see was me - walking from level to level of a huge concrete structure for the rest of my life.

I pushed the elevator button and the elevator doors opened quickly. I stepped in with two gentleman. One pressed “2.” One pressed “8.” I pressed – I didn’t know what to press. But I had to press something or they’d think I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t. I pressed “6.”

Which made sense now that I’d pressed it. I remembered driving up quite a few levels before I found a space. I didn’t go all the way to the top – I don’t think. Hard to tell when there’s nothing but concrete all around you, but seems to me I didn’t have to go that far.

Maybe I could remember how many right turns I made – but I don’t remember how many right turns there were on each level, so that’s no help. The elevator stopped and dropped me out. Level 6.

I was sure I’d parked near the elevator, within sight of it, and just around the bend where the cars come ’round. Couldn’t forget that. One of those cars had to stop for me, but she didn’t stop far enough back and I had to back into her – almost - before she decided she’d better get out of my way. So my car should be right there.

It wasn’t. I walked to my right a ways in case I’d parked further from the elevator than I thought. Nothing there. I turned around and walked back toward the bend. Nothing there. Back at the elevator, I pushed the button, got in and pressed “4” for no reason except my car wasn’t on “6.”

Level 4 was a loser but I didn’t panic. I wasn’t lost yet – just my car.

Which led me to remember my parking ticket validation. How long was it good for? Was it already in-validated because I hadn’t turned it in on time? How much would I have to pay? Did I have enough cash? Could I go back up to the 24^th floor and get it validated again? Look kind’a foolish…

I was going to get back on the elevator when I noticed a door marked “Stairs” to my left. Might as well get some exercise. I opened the “Stairs” door and walked up. I’d checked Levels 6 and 4; might as well check Level 5. Besides, it’s a lot better walking up the stairs if you want some exercise.

Level 5 was loser number three. I walked back down to Level 4 and kept going to Level 3. My gray Ford Fusion was waiting patiently in its gray concrete parking space, right across from the elevator, right around the bend.

Some things you remember. Some things you forget. Some things you forget to remember. Which level of the parking structure you parked your car on is not something you want to forget to remember. But my validation was still good. I’m glad I remembered to remember that.