This is my first Drivers' License picture.
Note gleeful grin.
I was 45 years old. I had been trying to get a license since forever.
Most people learn to drive when they are in their teens. In other words, before they have developed a Fear of Death. However, driving, in our family, was problematic and fraught with terror. Mom had a serious accident sometime in the 1930's, and hadn't driven since. That circumstance, did not, however, prevent her from being the second-worst backseat driver I have ever known.
As a driver, my father was nervous and cowed. He was not at all up to teaching me how. My friend Sheila's dad offered to teach me, but Dad couldn't quite bring himself to admit that he couldn't. So the offer was refused.
This was, of course, before Driver's Ed was taught in high school.
I never did learn. Years went by. I lived in cities where there was public transportation: Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, Austin...and then, I moved to Round Rock. I was dependent on SSS and friends for rides. Later, a bicycle.
Eventually, however, I had to join the grownups and learn to drive. I took the test nine times before I passed it. Anxiety would set in. A huge state trooper would get in the car and say, "Would you turn on your lights, please, Ma'am?"
I would turn on the windshield wipers, and it would all go downhill from there.
Once, I failed because I ran over a curb turning right. Once, because I pulled up to close to the car in front at a stoplight. I failed parallel parking every time. I failed parallel parking the time I passed, too, but that time, I managed to do everything else right.
Hence, at 45, the gleeful grin.
That is a very attractive photo. I so take my hat off to you doing that test so many time. You must have been so determined.
ReplyDeleteI made a few mistakes on my test too, Ronni.
I changed gear when I didn't have to on a hill. I knocked the post coming out of my parallel parking. My town driving, 3 point turn and hill starts all went off without a hitch. He should have failed me on nerves alone.
My saving grace was the fact that I went to a Driving School for 10 lessons.
If I hadn't passed that first time, I don't think I could have been tested again. I was totally pushed into driving by my mother, who phoned the D/School and told them to pick me up after work each day and teach me to drive.
My learning was during rush hour traffic. My test was at 3:00 PM which was rather startling because there was hardly any traffic.
Passing that test has to go down as being one of the best feelings in the world.
Apologies for the waffling.
That is a great picture and a great story!
ReplyDeleteIt took four tries for me to pass my driving test. I got in just in time for my 40th birthday.
ReplyDeleteSee? I knew we had something in common!
ReplyDelete