The very first time I was allowed behind the wheel of a car (with the engine on), I was 16 and staying with my Aunt. Growing up and watching other kids learn to get their driver's license, drove me crazy. My father would try to throw his logic on the situation, by telling me there was no reason for me to have one till I was 18 and no longer living with them. At the time the issue just flared up the usual "I hate you" or "that is not fair" or even "you are just being mean to me" or old faithful "you're ruining my life". My dad waited till he was 40 to get his, sister still doesn't have hers and brother just got his. So I guess it could have been worse!
Soo where was I..
Aunty and I were going down a dirt road from Lancaster, Ca to the next town Rosamond, Ca where she lived. She suddenly stopped right in the middle of the road, she turned and looked at me and said "get over here". We switched places. My first time driving, just the thought of it was thrilling. I slide in under the wheel and I am all smiles. Little did my aunt know that I was smiling cause that is also something I do when I am nervous. I was excited, but scared crazy too!
She drilled me on the things to do, it was an automatic; so that made it a little (I guess) easier. I proceeded to take off and boy did we ever! I hit the gas with a gusto (how was I to know you were supposed to go gently), I slammed on the brakes (as soon as I found them). We were off again but this time I was crawling, scared to give too much gas. Now in all of this, I was trying extremely hard to keep it on the little dirt road. There was ditches on both sides that aunty was screaming about. To tell you the truth I can't remember all that aunty screamed about in that short ten minutes (that might be a stretch of the time).
Lets just say it was over almost as soon as it started. I do recall another car coming at us and aunty was yelling something and I panicked. We switched places super fast and we lived to see another day! I scared aunty and myself, so bad that we were shaking all the way home. Honestly I don't think aunty ever did stop shaking! I bet every time she recalls it, she was nightmares for a week (or more)!
I didn't get behind the wheel of a car for at least another year, I was traumatized!! I eventually did get my license nearly two years later. I bet aunty would have never imagined in that moment, that I was going to end up a truck driver!
Love you, Aunty!!
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