A blur

Tonight I needed to use my car to get out of the city. I don't use my car that often any more. I have still been able to bike around. The other day it was -15°c but with the wind factor, they ever so often talk about here, it was down in -20°c, so I felt the need to dress up warm.

Dressed like this when it gets dark at night you can actually manage to scare a few dudes. I would be lying if I said I didn't get a kick out of it. I however realized that this is a better -35°c outfit. In -15°C you're basically a Finnish sauna on a bike. However exotic it may sound to some... it's not.

Tonight, I needed my car. My car needed oil. She is a moody, heavy drinker.  Apparently it runs in the family.  So while I was standing there with my darling of a Mini Cooper's hood wide open, my neighbor comes home. I met this man already on the first week I moved into the building. He started with greeting me sounding something like this " Hi there, I guess you're the new one in the building. Did you know that you and I have something in common?". I answered him with a "ah oui?" as he is the french speaking kind. The thing we ended up having in common was a car and parking next to each other. So he gently informed me of how he would like me to park, so that it would be easier for him. 

I figured out pretty quickly that what will help him, will be more difficult for me but I have been nice enough to park according to his request none the less.
As I was there doing my thing, he approaches me with a few nice questions and then he blurs out " no need to be scared of me, I'm a priest". I wasn't aware of being scared before digesting this sentence. What a weird thing to blur out. I responded with a laugh, like it was a joke. That was the best I could come up with, that's very often the best I can come up with. He thanks me for my nice parking, asks me if I will stay another year. I answer him that I don't know. He informs me of his wish for me to stay. Then he leaves and says "as I don't tend to see you more than once every 2 months, I wish you a merry Christmas! 
I answer him "pareillement, merci" My favorite sentence in French. You 're polite by avoiding all kinds of gender and tu/vous distinctions. 
After I manage to poor the oil in my car without spilling anything on the side, I drive off to the Montreal evening.

I can't help to laugh when I realize my accomplishments so far in the building is making a priest happy because of my small car and considerate parking. I'm as well thinking that maybe next time a dude gets scared of me in my biker outfit out in the Montreal evening, I should just blur out a "don't be scared, I work in customer service".