One day.
I'll give up my car.
I'm really not a very good driver. I get a little too wild at the wheel when the music is on, and sometimes my hands just end up off the wheel for one or two seconds. That's usually not safe while driving.
I'd like to take this paragraph to apologize to those who risked their lives driving with me while I was in my music mode. Lindsay and Taryn, I'm sorry about the time that I turned really erratically into the Gillette Road Middle School Parking lot. I think my car skidded that day. I was too fast and too furious. I just didn't have all of the drugs and guns and pimps and dynamite that those fast and furious people usually have. Truthfully, there was some miscommunication in the vehicle. One of the girl's told me to turn, and then I was taking awhile to assess the situation. I should have just confidently taken the turn. I've learned that confidence while driving is key. Lindsay gripped onto her Smartwater with all of her might and gasped. Taryn just gave me that look. The Taryn look. I promised her that I'd get some gummi worms at Wegs to make up for my horrendous driving. Lindsay just offered to give me rides in her Sebring more often when we went places. I'm sorry Lindsay and Taryn, I'm just a bad driver.
I mean, I always wear my seatbelt, and I don't text and drive. If I texted while driving, I'd probably cause an accident worse than the Boston Massacre. There was a lot of blood in that massacre, and honestly, I'm not a huge fan of blood. But I donate blood to get a free pound of Dunkin Donut's coffee, and I save some lives. I like to think that I since I don't do good at driving, I can do good in other parts of my life.
I recall the day I took my permit test. I almost didn't pass. Who knew that this written test would be a predictor of my driving abilities in the future. I talked my parents out of making me taking drivers' ed. I remember taking my five hour with a bunch of foreign people. My partner in the class only spoke Spanish. we communicated via napkin. We had a magical five hours together at the Sheraton hotel. I'm not sure that I got any driving knowledge out of the class, but I felt that I had become more culturally well rounded.
I took a couple driving classes, and eventually I took my driving class in Syracuse. I failed because of a double stop sign. The lady with the big glasses and bushy hair gave me my slip of paper with the bad news. I could tell that she had no soul. She just hopped into strangers' cars everyday and forced them to drive in all different directions. This lady never learned that you aren't supposed to get into cars with strangers. I cried when I failed, but Taryn had made me a tye-dye shirt in Chemistry to make me feel better.
I practiced driving more, and I took my test again in Fulton. A man got into my newly inspected jeep (we realized it needed to be inspected that morning). He told me to do my parallel park. I struggled, I sweat, and I giggled nervously. Finally, I managed to move my Jeep into a position that somewhat resembled parallel parking. I was shaking the rest of the test, and I think he actually felt bad for me. When he gave me the slip of paper saying that I passed, he said sternly, "Don't let this be a mistake."
I think of that man often. He was a fool to pass me. I'm pretty sure that he knew I would be doomed as a driver. When I drive with children in my car (while babysitting for a summer), I like to think that I'm a good driver though. I make sure they're seat belted, I play some good beats, and I always use my blinkers. Maybe I should just pretend that my friends are children when I drive from now on. I need to value the lives that I transport in the tundra of Syracuse, NY.
I've become a better driver in parking lots. I park far away. I avoid Walmart parking lots. I've learned from my mother that you should always pull through if you have the opportunity. It feels like a victory every time I do. Since my driver's test, I have not parallel parked. Thank goodness for that. Otherwise, my car would be sideswiped due to my lack of aptitude to park close enough to the curb.
I actually have no common sense when it comes to cleaning my car. My dad told me to windex it one time, and I though he meant the outside. My foot was broken at the time, and I was wearing a boot. I stupidly climbed onto the hood of the car and started washing the outside windows and not the inside ones. My boot put a giant scratch onto the car. My father was not thrilled. The woman that had owned the car must have been rolling over in her grave if she knew how I treated it. I also tend to gather tons of random items in my car. While working at a summer camp, you never know what kind of costumes or recreational items you would find in my back seat. Finally, in the heat of the summer I would clean my car with a shot vac. My Taurus would look brand new. Look at that Hot rod, I would say to myself.
I got my first speeding ticket a couple of months ago. I was half asleep when I was pulled over for going 58 in a 30. I like to think that my $300 ticket went into building a nice park bench in the village of Dryden. I had explained my plight to the officer, but he told me he had had his lights on following me. I was late for an appointment. It was 8 in the morning, and I was disheveled. I was in disbelief, but I managed to appeal to some important driver people and got the speed lowered to 48 in a 30.
I always believed that speed was just a guideline. Sometimes you just want to know how fast you can get from point A to point B. Most of the time, I just zone out, and all of the sudden, I'm cruising down Bear Rd. way too fast. I need to learn how to use cruise control I realize.
Recently, I was on the highway going 80 in a 65. Sometimes in the left lane, I feel pressured to move faster before I move back into the right lane. I moved to the right lane, slowed down, and then a cop pulled me over. I told the officer that I had no idea why he pulled me over. I used the word sir a plethora of times. He asked me if I thought I was having trouble with my speedometer. Yes, yes definitely that was the issue! I also told him I had just taken a defensive driving course (on my computer, and I didn't read an of it). He went back to his vehicle with my license and registration. (The only things I ever keep organized in my Taurus.) I just continued to listen to the book Into the Wild on CD. Another ticket I thought to myself. And then in the spirit of Into the Wild I thought, eh who cares I dislike driving anyways, I wonder if I'll get my license taken away?
The officer came back. He gave me an infraction for driving with improper wipers, aka:he gave me a big break. I thanked him graciously, and then I drove cautiously home. I got home and told my parents what happened. I told them that as soon as I could, I was selling my car and never driving again. I told them I would walk, run, and bike places. I'm better at doing those things than driving. That's for sure.
Biking makes me feel so much more free than driving because you can go as fast as you want. There are no restrictions. A bike doesn't go as fast a car, but it gives me more of a sense of control. In a car, I'm always tempted to push my limits. That involves taking risks, which is really not a very smart thing to do while driving.
For now, I'm going to keep driving my car because I haven't quite figured out how I can soundly manage without one. I think that's why my parents' still let me drive. I also think they know that I do value my safety more than taking risks while driving. I don't speed through bad weather. I don't drink and drive. I don't text and drive. I'm smart about that stuff. I just lack common sense while driving sometimes, and I think that's what gets me into trouble. I like biking, running,and walking because I am more aware of my surroundings. I can feel the air and smell the smells, and I don't use a GPS to figure out where I'm going. Perhaps I need to live where there is more public transit and friendlier weather. I wouldn't mind snowshoeing to work though. I'm up for any adventure.
I'll travel anywhere.
Just don't let me do the driving.
I'll give up my car.
I'm really not a very good driver. I get a little too wild at the wheel when the music is on, and sometimes my hands just end up off the wheel for one or two seconds. That's usually not safe while driving.
I'd like to take this paragraph to apologize to those who risked their lives driving with me while I was in my music mode. Lindsay and Taryn, I'm sorry about the time that I turned really erratically into the Gillette Road Middle School Parking lot. I think my car skidded that day. I was too fast and too furious. I just didn't have all of the drugs and guns and pimps and dynamite that those fast and furious people usually have. Truthfully, there was some miscommunication in the vehicle. One of the girl's told me to turn, and then I was taking awhile to assess the situation. I should have just confidently taken the turn. I've learned that confidence while driving is key. Lindsay gripped onto her Smartwater with all of her might and gasped. Taryn just gave me that look. The Taryn look. I promised her that I'd get some gummi worms at Wegs to make up for my horrendous driving. Lindsay just offered to give me rides in her Sebring more often when we went places. I'm sorry Lindsay and Taryn, I'm just a bad driver.
I mean, I always wear my seatbelt, and I don't text and drive. If I texted while driving, I'd probably cause an accident worse than the Boston Massacre. There was a lot of blood in that massacre, and honestly, I'm not a huge fan of blood. But I donate blood to get a free pound of Dunkin Donut's coffee, and I save some lives. I like to think that I since I don't do good at driving, I can do good in other parts of my life.
I recall the day I took my permit test. I almost didn't pass. Who knew that this written test would be a predictor of my driving abilities in the future. I talked my parents out of making me taking drivers' ed. I remember taking my five hour with a bunch of foreign people. My partner in the class only spoke Spanish. we communicated via napkin. We had a magical five hours together at the Sheraton hotel. I'm not sure that I got any driving knowledge out of the class, but I felt that I had become more culturally well rounded.
I took a couple driving classes, and eventually I took my driving class in Syracuse. I failed because of a double stop sign. The lady with the big glasses and bushy hair gave me my slip of paper with the bad news. I could tell that she had no soul. She just hopped into strangers' cars everyday and forced them to drive in all different directions. This lady never learned that you aren't supposed to get into cars with strangers. I cried when I failed, but Taryn had made me a tye-dye shirt in Chemistry to make me feel better.
I practiced driving more, and I took my test again in Fulton. A man got into my newly inspected jeep (we realized it needed to be inspected that morning). He told me to do my parallel park. I struggled, I sweat, and I giggled nervously. Finally, I managed to move my Jeep into a position that somewhat resembled parallel parking. I was shaking the rest of the test, and I think he actually felt bad for me. When he gave me the slip of paper saying that I passed, he said sternly, "Don't let this be a mistake."
I think of that man often. He was a fool to pass me. I'm pretty sure that he knew I would be doomed as a driver. When I drive with children in my car (while babysitting for a summer), I like to think that I'm a good driver though. I make sure they're seat belted, I play some good beats, and I always use my blinkers. Maybe I should just pretend that my friends are children when I drive from now on. I need to value the lives that I transport in the tundra of Syracuse, NY.
I've become a better driver in parking lots. I park far away. I avoid Walmart parking lots. I've learned from my mother that you should always pull through if you have the opportunity. It feels like a victory every time I do. Since my driver's test, I have not parallel parked. Thank goodness for that. Otherwise, my car would be sideswiped due to my lack of aptitude to park close enough to the curb.
I actually have no common sense when it comes to cleaning my car. My dad told me to windex it one time, and I though he meant the outside. My foot was broken at the time, and I was wearing a boot. I stupidly climbed onto the hood of the car and started washing the outside windows and not the inside ones. My boot put a giant scratch onto the car. My father was not thrilled. The woman that had owned the car must have been rolling over in her grave if she knew how I treated it. I also tend to gather tons of random items in my car. While working at a summer camp, you never know what kind of costumes or recreational items you would find in my back seat. Finally, in the heat of the summer I would clean my car with a shot vac. My Taurus would look brand new. Look at that Hot rod, I would say to myself.
I got my first speeding ticket a couple of months ago. I was half asleep when I was pulled over for going 58 in a 30. I like to think that my $300 ticket went into building a nice park bench in the village of Dryden. I had explained my plight to the officer, but he told me he had had his lights on following me. I was late for an appointment. It was 8 in the morning, and I was disheveled. I was in disbelief, but I managed to appeal to some important driver people and got the speed lowered to 48 in a 30.
I always believed that speed was just a guideline. Sometimes you just want to know how fast you can get from point A to point B. Most of the time, I just zone out, and all of the sudden, I'm cruising down Bear Rd. way too fast. I need to learn how to use cruise control I realize.
Recently, I was on the highway going 80 in a 65. Sometimes in the left lane, I feel pressured to move faster before I move back into the right lane. I moved to the right lane, slowed down, and then a cop pulled me over. I told the officer that I had no idea why he pulled me over. I used the word sir a plethora of times. He asked me if I thought I was having trouble with my speedometer. Yes, yes definitely that was the issue! I also told him I had just taken a defensive driving course (on my computer, and I didn't read an of it). He went back to his vehicle with my license and registration. (The only things I ever keep organized in my Taurus.) I just continued to listen to the book Into the Wild on CD. Another ticket I thought to myself. And then in the spirit of Into the Wild I thought, eh who cares I dislike driving anyways, I wonder if I'll get my license taken away?
The officer came back. He gave me an infraction for driving with improper wipers, aka:he gave me a big break. I thanked him graciously, and then I drove cautiously home. I got home and told my parents what happened. I told them that as soon as I could, I was selling my car and never driving again. I told them I would walk, run, and bike places. I'm better at doing those things than driving. That's for sure.
Biking makes me feel so much more free than driving because you can go as fast as you want. There are no restrictions. A bike doesn't go as fast a car, but it gives me more of a sense of control. In a car, I'm always tempted to push my limits. That involves taking risks, which is really not a very smart thing to do while driving.
For now, I'm going to keep driving my car because I haven't quite figured out how I can soundly manage without one. I think that's why my parents' still let me drive. I also think they know that I do value my safety more than taking risks while driving. I don't speed through bad weather. I don't drink and drive. I don't text and drive. I'm smart about that stuff. I just lack common sense while driving sometimes, and I think that's what gets me into trouble. I like biking, running,and walking because I am more aware of my surroundings. I can feel the air and smell the smells, and I don't use a GPS to figure out where I'm going. Perhaps I need to live where there is more public transit and friendlier weather. I wouldn't mind snowshoeing to work though. I'm up for any adventure.
I'll travel anywhere.
Just don't let me do the driving.
