Driving Memories

While Sarah and I were sitting in the DMV line for a very long time and while I was walking home from MHS, I was thinking about my driving experience (and the driving experiences of those six cute kids of mine). I don't remember actually taking my driving test and I couldn't find a journal entry - but I remember I took driver's education the summer before I turned 16 and Mr. Sandstedt was my teacher - the mens varsity basketball coach. That was a long hot class and he was so boring - but I wanted my license sooooo bad. I have a vague remembrance of the dreaded part of the test, parallel parking!!! I know I passed and that I was very very happy about it especially since I was the youngest in my class with my birthday in late September. The part I do have a vivid memory about was after the test. the afternoon of my test, I begged my mom if I could please take the car and drive somewhere, anywhere, truly wanting to have my friends see me or something. After much pleading she relented and said well, the Impala (pictured above, yes that is Todd Larsen and me) needs some gas. That was just the kind of errand I was looking for. I tanked up at the gas station and as I was pulling away, side swiped the entire back end of that gold car with the yellow post that protected the gas dispenser and having to go home and tell my mom the horrible news. I had to tell her a lot of horrible news about cars. I usually told her and let her break the news to my dad. He would always come in later in the day and say "You know I love you more than the car!!" Thanks mom and dad. (I'm afraid Dad has had to say that a few times also!) My second accident was backing out one car (the wagon below) and hitting the Impala when I was late for work, after I had ditched school and been skiing all day. Oh boy.I don't have a picture of our last car when I was a teen - a Chevy Vega (The picture below looks similar although our Vega had blue and white stripes down the side). This car was a stick shift. I never dented this car - just dented my ego when in front of all my friends I missed four lights straight trying to get out of first gear. I thought it would be fun if the family posted driving memories!!!