That's a good thing, too, because I seem to have had a bit of trouble getting into the holiday spirit this year, and not having to fight with parking has actually made me a little less bah-humbuggy, at least for the time I was shopping.

Now I'm not being blasphemous. At least that's not my intention. But everybody understands that parking at any kind of mall or shopping center is something of a challenge this year. I know it. You know it. The guy in the humungous truck who just cut you off and stole your space knows it. (Javier Soto even talked about it in his blog -- Holiday Cheer.)

Let me start by saying that no matter how Christmasy I feel, I'm not really a fan of malls at the holidays. Too crowded with people freaking out. I do quite a bit of my shopping online. (That can't come as a surprise. I do, after all, make a living working on the Internet.)

Anyway, my mom talked me into going shopping with her a couple of weekends ago, well into the holiday shopping frenzy. Keep in mind that she's not exactly brimming with holiday spirit this year, nor is she a fan of big crowds.

And we both hate stupid drivers, and they always seem to be out in force this time of year.

Anyway, we headed to Scottsdale Fashion Square. As we turned into the parking structure across from Camelview Theaters, she had a question. Or maybe it was a warning.

"Are you ready for this?"

I brace myself and turned into the line. Cars stretched as far as we could see.

I settled back in my seat and was ready to head up to the top level or the furthest possible point from where we wanted to be, whichever we hit first.

We inched along and we about halfway to the turn at the far end of the structure (the end across from the former Robinsons-May store) when I suddenly spotted white tail light on a bright blue Jeep.

Could I really be this lucky?

Sure enough the Jeep backed out. And I pulled into the newly free primo space. I didn't even have to stop and hold up the line behind me. It took less than five minutes. Score!

It happened again last weekend when I was at Biltmore Fashion Park. Pretty much the same scenario. I happened upon another shopper just as he was leaving and found myself in pretty much the perfect parking spot.

Then again last night. My mom and I went to Sportsman's to pick up some wine. Now that parking lot can be a challenge on the best of days.

I turned in off of Camelback Road and immediately saw an SUV waiting to pull into what appeared to be the one free space. I saw those tell-tale white lights a few rows over, but that was somebody just straightening out.

From the 32nd Street side of the lot, I saw somebody pulling out from in front of the golf shop, across the lot. I headed that direction when it leaped out at me. An empty spot -- right in front of the door to Sportsman's. It was like it was just waiting for me. Truly a beautiful thing.

So the three times I've gone out shopping, I've had incredible parking luck.

I don't know why the parking gods saw fit to honor me so, but man, do I owe them!