How I Found Stress Relief in a Parking Ticket

A True Story in Ten Steps

by Alison Weiss – April 8, 2009

Step One: Park on the same old meter-free, permit-free, sign-free street where you’ve always parked before taking the Grand Street bus to work.

Step Two: After work, step off the bus to find a $75 ticket on your car because some train tracks are running overhead and there’s an obscure city law against parking underneath them – even though this particular street doesn’t narrow at all under the tracks and is consistently lined with cars.

Step Three: Unleash litany of curse words to self.

Step Four: Go all CSI on crime scene with cell phone camera as fingers freeze.

Step Five: Pause. Notice other car across street with same bogus ticket. Look at camera. Reach into heart.

Step Six: Find paper and pen. Leave note on said car offering cell phone pictures to fellow victim of City Greed. Leave number.

Step Seven: Answer phone the next day and speak with recipient of note – a friendly guy name Herru – about the possibilities of fighting the ticket.

Step Eight: Learn that Herru is a massage therapist, who offers you a free massage as thanks for your help.

Step Nine: Accept!!!!

Step Ten: Schedule a house call for one of the best deep-tissue massages you have ever received.

Ladies, skip to step ten. Seriously, just go ahead and call Herru, aka “My Hero.”

Since moving to the States from Indonesia, Herru has developed a faithful following (such as the client who insisted on paying that parking ticket) for his house call massage services.

He arrived at my boyfriend’s apartment with a sturdy, comfy, fold-out massage table and spa music to boot, on an iPod gifted by yet another client. After some friendly banter during set-up, he got to work, and he knew exactly how to handle my ever-tightening shoulders and back. He even correctly guessed sore points without a word from me. I happen to like almost unbearably deep tissue massage to really loosen knots – but Herru does it all and can adjust as you wish.

He told me that back in Indonesia they would give massages to people of all incomes, sometime just for meals. With this spirit in mind, he keeps his prices quite reasonable. If it took a bogus parking ticket for me to discover him, so be it. Now he’s ours to share.

Call Herru Guntoro now – your muscles and wallet will thank you. 224.612.2399.

About the Author: Alison Weiss

Ever inquisitive, Ali conducts the "Nosy" interviews that bring you closer to the cheeky side of Chicago's creative types. She also contributes to the ‘Drama’ section and cannot resist writing up the occasional band or bar. She loves nothing more than telling stories, whether in writing, on stage or in video. A New York City native, Ali came to Chicago in 2003 to study a little improv and decided to stay. She has performed in theaters around town and is a published playwright with work produced all over the country. Most recently, Ali has delved into video editing and she currently works on content for the newly re-launched Playboy.com. She keeps her work and updates here.

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