I'm learning to drive. This is my latest goal, a license. I've given up on the friends and family who have promised to "teach me to drive". I get one or two lessons out of them and that's it. It's not due to my skill level either! A couple of weeks ago after taking a good hard look at my permit, I realized, that it expires this year on my birthday. How could five years have come and gone so soon?
Shortly after making that discovery I bit the proverbial bullet and paid to enroll in a driving school. My instructors name is John. I like John. John is nice. John has patience. John used to teach mentally retarded children...not to drive...that was my question when he told me that!
I've had two lessons on the these mean Manhattan streets. I am alive to tell the story.
I was really nervous at the first lesson. It wasn't my first time behind the wheel but it was my first time with the so much traffic around me. The school in located in the Union Square area and my lessons are generally at the time of rush hour. Thankfully due to the huge "Student Driver" sign on the top of the car I have recieved some courtesy. I was only honked at once for not moving fast enough after the light changed from red to green. The honk of annoyance came from a yellow cab driver and in my book they don't count. They have very limited patience and often limited driving skills themselves. Other than that lesson number one went smoothly. Slowly but smoothly.
At lesson number two I made a conscious effort to be more relaxed. I can't worry about the cars around me. I have to relax and remember what to do. My parallel parking was really good in lesson number two.
I have three formal lessons and then my road test on May 10th.
Last night I drove home from Coney Island. I was really nervous but, I did fine. I'm proud of myself. I'm proud that I'm being productive and doing positive things for myself. Now all I have to do is find my way to the gym at some point in the near future because I haven't been all week. I'm running 10 miles tomorrow though so ...that's gotta count for something...
