Friday Flashback - Driver's Ed

Finally, at the age of 33, I can say that I’m an EXCELLENT parallel parker.  It has only taken a “few” years to perfect…  Let’s just say I used to drive around until I found a spot I could pull into…

When I started Driver’s Education – the behind the wheel portion, I hadn’t had very much practice driving yet.  Maybe that’s what happens when you are the fourth child?  I mean, I could drive a riding lawn mower no problem, how different could it be? 

Well… there were no lanes or stop signs in my yard… 

Driver’s Ed – Behind the Wheel has got to be the time in my life where I felt the most stupid/like an airhead/dumb/etc./etc./etc.  I have probably never been so flustered in my life.  We’re talking white knuckles on a steering wheel. 

I was pretty nervous getting behind the wheel seated next to my instructor that first day.   I was a horrible driver.  I didn’t change lanes properly, took too long to change lanes, or I didn’t look in my rear view mirror enough.  I felt like I was getting yelled at the whole time – though he wasn’t yelling – just annoyed with me.

When the instructor took me to a residential area, I stopped at EVERY intersection – stop sign or no stop sign.  I just could not figure it out.  Mr. Fitzgerald would say, “WHY ARE YOU STOPPING???”  or "What are you waiting for? Go!"

“I don’t know!” “I’m sorry!”  I’d explain a little flustered… 

My first day behind the wheel, we get back to school, he asks me to pull up beside the first tennis court by the entrance and back into a spot about 25-30 yards behind me.  I think it took me 25-30 minutes to go that far.  I could not figure out how to get the car to go the way I wanted it to going backwards! 

My teacher was clearly annoyed with me. 

That same day at lunch time, some guys I was sitting with started talking about watching someone in the driver’s ed car backing into the parking lot by their classroom and laughing  about how the person couldn’t do it.  I asked what time that was, and it turned out the person they were making fun of was me!!!!  

I started practicing more with my parents, and my mom liked to tell everyone that she thought my goal while driving was to make sure I hit every pot hole or crack in the road. 

I think I redeemed myself with my Driver’s Ed teacher when we were driving and a big truck majorly pulled out in front of me, and my reaction time was better than my teacher’s and I slammed on the brake before he slammed on his on the passenger side.  “Good job,” he said, probably after his heart started beating normally again.

I actually passed Drivers Education.  After my test, my teacher turned to me and said, “This is the first time I’ve actually seen a bad driver turn into a good driver.  Good job.”

He would totally be impressed with my parallel parking skills.