Yet another parking lot encounter

[madamesilverspurs]

It was just a couple of weeks ago that a rock pinged off my car as I was parking at the grocery store. I turned in time to see a guy yelling something about "libruls" and waving his fists in my direction; he was being dragged away by a woman who didn’t look happy with his behavior. They disappeared among the cars and I just shook my head, glad that I’d had the windows rolled up.

This afternoon I was putting some groceries into my car when an older woman, whose car was parked a couple spaces away, approached me while pointing at my bumper stickers. She smiled and asked if she could give a hug to a fellow Democrat. “Absolutely!” I said, and she laughed and gave me a squeeze, saying that it was so refreshing to know that she isn’t alone. It was acknowledgement that it’s not easy living in a community that is routinely ruled by Republicans. We chatted a bit, and I gave her some stickers and a couple of pins. When we parted, she returned to her car where she handed one of the pins to her wheelchair bound passenger, and he raised his head and gave me one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever received.

I’ve shared before that when my car was still new it got keyed the length on both sides as objection to my bumper stickers. If the intent was to shut me up, it failed. Since then, I’ve been cursed at and gesticulated at, and have now had a rock thrown at me. But I’ve also had a number of happy parking lot encounters like this afternoon’s.

Before getting into her car, the woman today repeated, “I really like your stickers!” As she said that we heard sirens getting closer, and I said “Sounds like they’re onto us, we’d better hurry!” We both laughed, and drove off smiling, and one of us is already planning more stickers.

[stillcool]

1. nice....we really are everywhere

so much is made of the squeaky wheels, and not enough about the majority that is we.

[gratuitous]

2. That's very nice

As for the other reactions your car provokes, you didn't care what those knuckleheads thought when you put the stickers on your car. You can continue not caring what they "think" when they offer their opinion.

[defacto7]

3. It's barely still a free country.

[Karadeniz]

4. How wonderful! Glad you all bumped into each other...keep your hopes up!

[johnthewoodworker]

5. I go to a 24 hour fitness place every day in northern Wisconsin. Usually around 7:00 am.

This is a republican county of about 16,000 people. There are a large number of older men who are ardent Fox news viewers. I have ordered about 8 tee shirts that I wear to workout. They are: 'Impeach the mf', 'Republicans, the party of traitors', 'Trump lies', 'Anti- racist anti-sexist anti-trump pro-dog', 'No one is illegal on stolen land, 'Close the camps', 'Anti trump AF'. The republicans don't talk to me (a benefit), and I've had about five people compliment me on my shirts.

I actually wear these shirts all the time. I am a 60 y.o. bearded white male and I don't want anybody I meet to assume I'm a republican.

[CurtEastPoint]

6. When I go to France and someone asks where I am from, I tell the "United States but I did NOT

vote for Trump.' I always get agreement. I am an older white male. Do NOT assume I am a Repube.

[Doitnow]

40. And I am an elderly white woman who voted twice for Obama and this will be my second time for

Bernie. I had parents who talked about Roosevelt in the thirties. I remember John and Robert Kennedy and how people cried in streets when they died. And so they did when Martin Luther King died. My husband went to school on the GI Bill and so gave our family a good life.

I live in a sea of Republicans, but I have my Bernie sign in my front yard.

[Scruffy1]

25. Sound like Sawyer County.

I lived there many years ago. Met a lot of nice people. It was the poorest county in the state so of course only had one political party;Republican. This was before talk radio and the people were really tolerant of other people even ones with on the lunatic fringe. I was working so much I never got involved in local politics, but the county was run by a handful of people who made all the decisions in their own best interest. Looking back, I have some great memories but vowed never to live on the east side of the Mississipi again.

[CaptYossarian]

36. Good, a fellow Zunker voter.

This one's gonna be tough. Each of the two Repubs got as many votes as the combined amount for our side. Dave Obey carried this district for 43 years, but it had blue Portage County in it before the cluster-mandering.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

7. You've probably mentioned it in other threads

but what are some of the stickers you have? I'm curious what's provoking such strong responses, positive and negative.

I put a few stickers on my first new car - sports teams I followed - but I've not done that with any cars since. The older I get the more cranky I am about my car's appearance. I allow myself a license plate frame, though.

[soldierant]

12. Personally, I like the one that explains voting is just like driving.

But my arthritis makes it tough toget out to the car and put it on, and especially now when I'm having a flareup.

And I also am always interested in hearing of more.

[madamesilverspurs]

13. Mostly state and local candidates.

Also have Obama stickers that have held up better than any of the others. They even survived the hailstorms that shredded most of the stickers. And I live in a red part of a purple state.


.

[Evolve Dammit]

8. It really sucks that someone keyed your car. That is blatant vandalism and I wish I had been there.

Obviously free speech is in jeopardy, and I thank you for you compassion, generosity and humor. I'm losing mine, except for fellow Dems or tolerant people willing to talk.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

31. Off topic, but I love your screen name!

Would make a great bumper sticker.

[Maraya1969]

34. I wonder if there is a way to have cameras in your car to catch the vandals?

Actually there is. And according to one car surveillance camera they say this:
-------------------------

Parking mode
Monitors your car's surroundings while your car is parked and the engine is not running. Requires parking mode cable, sold separately; professional installation recommended."

It would be great to have post these videos right to the internet. I wouldn't do it with my car right now but if it was older I'd think about it.

[Maraya1969]

35. Wow Youtube video showing woman keying a Tesla

[CaptYossarian]

38. There was a demo at our local Best Buy of a car alarm that

sounded like a machine gun. Everyone ignores the old, tired alarms, but this would get people's attention.

[kag]

9. I was at my local liquor store the other day...

And the owner was chatting with a customer and another employee (all older white men) when I walked up to the register. He was describing a trip he had taken to Europe (France, I think) to buy booze wholesale, and how the tariffs are having an effect on the prices. The employee said, "Well, what are you gonna do?"

Without knowing any of their politics I quickly answered loudly, "Vote Democratic in November!"

All three laughed and agreed whole-heartedly.

My town tends to be pretty liberal, but it was still nice to see.

[yaesu]

10. the criminal organization running the white house inspires law breakers who damage things. nt

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. Thank you for hanging in there.

I don't happen to have any bumper stickers on my car, even though I live in a reliably Democratic area. Northern New Mexico.

I have zero tolerance for those who will key a car, or worse, just because political sentiments are expressed. I would NEVER do that to a car that has anything expressing opinions I don't agree with. Period.

Most people really are good and nice.

thank you for this story.

[madamesilverspurs]

14. I'm next door in Colorado.

Northern part, most seats held by republicans. Love your state, went to high school in Albuquerque, have been back for some reunions and got waaay lost.


.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

26. I moved to Santa Fe, NM, in 2008 after a divorce.

It was the best thing I could have done for myself. The state is mostly Democratic, but unfortunately there is a lot of corruption here. It's sort of like the state wants to be like New Jersey, but can't begin to make it that far. Sigh.

What I truly love is the weather. Not too hot in the summer, not too cold in the winter. Although locals tend to behave as if until a couple of years ago the climate was like San Diego, which strikes me as rather odd. Okay, so it gets a bit chilly in the winter. Big deal. Have you ever been to Minnesota? Or northern New York State? I've lived in both and trust me, winter in Santa Fe is a cakewalk compared to them.

Here's the really weird part. You know that large room at the front of your house, the one with the large roll-up door? The one you keep all of your crap in? Well, guess what. It's called a garage and normal people keep their car in it. Yeah, really. I have NEVER lived anywhere that people don't use the garage for the car, but for all of their junk and park the car outside instead. How bizarre is that?

Trust me, this is not normal. In most places people use the garage for the car. If you have so much stuff that the car won't fit, then re-think your priorities.

Meanwhile, I really, really love living in Santa Fe.

[Richard58]

37. I loved Santa Fe!

I visited New Mexico for the first time last year and I have to say I found it infatuating. (BTW, I am from Pennsylvania.) I can see why they call it the Land of Enchantment. My girlfriend and I visited Santa Fe and Taos and I fell in love with both places. I loved the area, the people and the nice weather. I would love to live in Santa Fe but my girlfriend likes areas with a lot of green foliage. Oh well--such is life. But I will go visit again!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

39. You could consider moving into some one of the mountains,

like around Taos for greenery. But then you'd be a lot farther off the beaten path, which for me isn't appealing.

What I like about Santa Fe is that it's not very big, so there's not the crazy traffic of a big city, and it's near enough to Albuquerque to get all the big city things you might like.

For sure, visit us again.

[Stonepounder]

15. I know that the fact I live in KY immediately makes you think of Moscow Mitch

but... the community I live in leans Right... even a few Confederate Flags flying. But there are enough Dem bumper stickers and yard signs (when election rolls around) that we all just get along. My next door neighbor had a Confederate flag flying when we moved in. But, when he was trying to learn how to use a computer he would come over and ask me for help. And when I was in the hospital having my gall bladder out, without saying a word he came over and mowed my lawn so my wife wouldn't have to do it.

We don't talk politics, but we don't rag on folks who don't agree with our politics either. One small corner of what the US used to be.

[Aussie105]

17. Nice!

More people should focus less on the horror and negativity of the abstract world of politics and more on the positivity and the niceness you can inject into the reality that is your life and those near you.

In short, don't let the clown-shit affect who you are and how you live your life.

Should be more of it.

[mitch96]

30. " even a few Confederate Flags flying"

I like to piss those guys/gals off with my tee shirt. It has the Betsy Ross 13 stars and 13 bars and says "the original Rebel Flag
Truth hurts but someone has to tell 'em, right?
m

[FlaGranny]

16. Bumper sticker

I've been thinking about is one that says "Re-Elect Putin/Trump". Wonder what would happen?

[Aussie105]

18. They will like it!

So will the Democrats. But they tend to be deep thinkers compared to them Republicans.

[FlaGranny]

20. I guess.

I don't dare to put one on my car - it is a lease - can't risk any damage.

[Different Drummer]

19. I don't think I'd do it in the part of Georgia where I live.

But if you can do it safely where you are, go for it!

[UTUSN]

21. Congrats, you get Friendlies!1 I get accosted regularly by the thank-you-for-your-service types

I wear my Navy/ship's cap and *won't* stop wearing it, but it's a magnet for the aforesaid ones, who are usually of the Wingnut/Chickenhawk variety. I've got good radar and can tell (and appreciate) the other kind (the sincere ones).

Ever since SHITLER burst on the scene, the ones who accost me are wearing the red caps. Before that, it was the Shrubbites/Iraq ones, who were more circumspect.

[Poiuyt]

22. I've taken a break when a republican has won the presidency

Bush in 2004 and them trump. I became too depressed so I just took a good break.

[spanone]

23. ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️K&R⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️

[iluvtennis]

24. Awww, thanks so much for sharing. Very heartwarming 😍

[Croney]

27. I'm in awe of people brave enough to put political stickers on their cars. I have

a Penzy's Spices sticker; pretty subtle I know.

[Kath2]

28. I've had many similar encounters.

My vehicle is a rolling liberal manifesto. I get the the finger and the dirty looks but I also get the love and support.

Resist and persist.

[calimary]

29. Nice!

An encouraging read. We ARE everywhere, aren’t we!

[Joinfortmill]

32. You are brave, Madamesilverspurs.

[abakan]

33. I was recently screamed at by a redneck in a pickup truck.

My car has a lot of bumperstickers and last week I was trying to merge into traffic from a parking lot.
I was waiting to shoot the gap between oncoming traffic both ways and apparently I was taking too long for the guy behind me. What I was subjected to was a guy with a beet red face, screaming at me. "Turn you damn liberal!" The only thing I could think to do was to come out with a big belly laugh. He was behind me for some distance down the road and I laughed at him the whole way. When he finally turned off his face was so red I thought he might stroke out.