Get Out On The Highway

When K became eligible to make her driving test around Thanksgiving, we called and got a date of January 9th. This was no good for K because she wanted her license NOW or at least before Christmas. I'm pretty sure she wanted it so badly so she could drive and get me a special Christmas present all by herself. (Yes, that was sarcasm)

Because K has a very persuasive nature about her, she had me calling all over the state of MA to get her a December appointment. I wound up getting one for last Friday. In Southbridge. 2 1/2 hours away. At 9AM.

We left the house at 6 and got to Southbridge right on time. Nerves were a jangling. We watched some other 16 year olds go out for their tests. One came back sitting in the back seat. We figured something had to have gone very wrong on that drive. It was our turn, the man stood outside and went through all the light checks and hand signals. He, then, asked for K to secure the ebrake and rev the engine to make sure the ebrake worked.

She tried.

And tried.

And tried again and each time the car jumped forward a little. The man said, "I am sorry, I cannot get in the car with you if your ebrake is not working. Call this number and you should get in for next week."

Well, then came the tears and the disbelief. We drove to a parking lot for 20 minutes where it was pretty much my fault that she did not get her license. Then she yanked with 2 hands on the brake and asked (ok, told) me to try it again. I did and the car did not move. We did it 3 more times and the ebrake worked. K decided we were going back and demanding another try. (Side note: confrontation like this makes me want to vomit. I never send food back to the kitchen at a restaurant. I would rather deal with the situation and brush it off rather than try to change it. No, I am not very proud of this trait in me, but it's me and I own it.)

So, we turned around and went back and asked for another try. And the Christmas miracle of it all, was the guy gave it to us because he realized that we had driven a long way to get there. He got in the car and my nervous girl drove around Southbridge with a very patient man going 15 mph.

But she passed! And the world was right again and I even got a big hug (from her, not the man).

Drive safely, baby!

Heading Down the Highway (or parking lot)

I swear I learned how to drive by mowing our acre of lawn. I had to steer, not hit rocks or trees and use a gas pedal. The only casualty I had was running over a snake. I did not even feel badly about it. Not too many people have riding mowers on Cape Cod unless they are of the wealthier land barons. If lawns are big enough, the people usually have a lawn service. Therefore, my girls are subject to learn how to drive a car the old fashion way.

K will be 16 soon (or if you are a police officer, she already is) and has gotten the bug to drive. Her Dad has taken her up and down the driveway in a huge truck, backwards. Interesting way to start. She drives the truck around the horse ring, too. I am pretty sure that they take the horses out of the ring first.

I took her over the weekend to teach her the beginning steps, adjust your mirror, the seat, turn off the radio so you can concentrate, put your phone in the trunk so you can concentrate, put a big sign on the car to announce that you are a new driver....

She did pretty well, actually. I gave her my whole spiel of being a defensive driver and always be prepared for anything. She rolled her eyes. I asked her to take a right and then a left and she missed the left. My voice may have gotten a little louder, but according to her, I was yelling at her. Now she just wants to drive with Daddy because he doesn't yell. I was just impressed that I didn't have both arms on the dashboard and a bottle of anti-anxiety meds in my lap.

Before she drove, we went to a town landing to take some photos of the icy ocean. (see yesterday's blog) She asked me if we were at a landing that is 4 miles away. When  we got to the big parking lot, she asked if this is around where so and so lived. "Um, no... so and so lives 2 miles that way."  This is more of my concern with her driving. Maybe her dad can handle the driving up and down the driveway and I will handle the teaching of the streets of Cape Cod, save my money and buy her a GPS. I still have a few months before I have to send her out solo. That's when I will need the bottle of anti-anxiety meds.

Didn't I just take this a few weeks ago?