When Kevin was about 8 years old, he and I went for a bicycle ride in the country.  We started from our home in West Covina, which was located near the eastern edge of the metropolitan area of the San Gabriel Valley, rode through some pretty busy streets, and eventually wound up in the country.  We spent the whole afternoon riding around the country, enjoying the scenery, and eating a lunch we had packed. 

On the way back, as we neared our home, we came to a large mall, with a largely empty parking lot that seemed like a good shortcut rather than travel the long way on the streets.  As we left the street and entered the parking lot, Kevin stopped his bike in front of me, turned his head, and in the most serious voice and serious facial expression you could imagine, he said:  “Be careful Dad, these parking lots are much more dangerous than the streets.  You never know when someone won’t follow the lines.”  It must have made an impression on me – since then, I think of his words every time I’m tempted to take a shortcut in a parking lot, whether on foot, bicycle, or automobile.