johnguidry
09-08-2010, 10:19 AM
Automatic Transmission? Hmmmmmm?.......A few days ago a parking attendant was, as usual, directing us to back up our vehicle and park our family sized van in a "shoebox" sized parking place. Backing and parking a large vehicle in these extremely tight garages can be quite a nightmare with the attendant giving wild hand signals and emotional instructions in Spanish. Having had enough of watching our attendant flay his arms wildly about in an "octopus" dance, we got out of the vehicle and said, "Here, you do it!” By the expression on his face it was obvious no one had ever dared stand up to him before! He reluctantly got into our vehicle and sat there for several minutes. "What could he be being doing?, we thought." Suddenly he slowly and awkwardly began to drive the van to a larger, more easily accessible parking space. "Ahhhhhh, we thought! He can't back into that mouse-hole either!" When he arrived at the new space, he again kept the vehicle stationary for a few minutes before proceeding to back up the van. Sis. Guidry and I scurried for cover and finally, after several minutes of back and forward maneuvers, the van was parked. The attendant gave me the keys and with an embarrassed smile and a sheepish look in his eyes, explained, "I was looking for the "a" in the steering column. This is an automatic, isn't it? I thought it would drive and park itself!" Most transmissions in Spain are standard. I had never thought of an automatic transmission in this light! I guess now after almost 30 years in the ministry, we can finally say we have seen and heard it all!