Teen Driver Hits the Road
5/15/08
Nerves Just a Temporary Roadblock to Vehicular Freedom
It’s finally happened: My teenager got his license. After months of holding my ground about him getting good grades and holding my breath about taking this giant leap, we went to the DMV to get his prized ticket to freedom.
The experience was harrowing, to say the least. I knew things were going south when a cranky guy picked up the clipboard with my son’s permit attached to it. Mr. Sourpuss called Jake’s name, and I watched Jake’s face go limp.
Mr. Crabbypants walked outside and did a quick inspection of the car, got into the passenger seat and instructed Jake to pull out of the parking lot. That’s where things got interesting. Jake slowly started backing out of his space when a small car blaring its stereo came speeding through the lane. Jake stopped quickly, but the other driver laid on his horn. Yikes! If he wasn’t nervous before, he sure was now.
Jake got out of the parking spot and headed toward the street, but he pulled out when there was another car coming. I was watching, and it was a little closer than it should have been (not slam-on-your-brakes close, just I’m-driving-too-fast-for-this-parking-lot close). Next, though, he swerved to avoid a gigantic pothole, and that’s where Mr. Crankybutt pulled the plug and failed Jake right there in the parking lot.
That experience helped significantly when we came back the next day to try again. Jake knew he had to be on his game, and that letting someone make him feel so nervous was counterproductive to the task at hand — a task for which he’d been preparing for about 15 months. Luckily, the next day’s evaluation crew was much more cheerful and positive, and Jake passed with flying colors.
On our way home, I called our insurance company to tell them it was time to send me an outrageous new bill. The agent’s response? “Congratulations to Jake and my condolences to you.” I think that pretty much sums it up.
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Seriously, as if I don't feel old enough having a teen driver... did we really have to pull out the eighties movie poster staring Corey squared? Maybe I am the only one who gets how very apropos that is. Kudos to the pop-culture reference department.
Posted by: Emily | May 16, 2008 12:30:24 AM