The past few weeks have been filled with interesting driving news. One major thing that happened over the last few months was that my Rehabilitation specialist gave me a deadline upon which all my driving lessons would cease. They were no longer interested in my learning, but seemed to want to pull the rug out from under me due to business pressures and budget constraints. The deadline was August 31st. So a few weeks ago, I received a "urgent' email from my Rehabilitation specialist asking me to call immediately. I did so expecting to get the axe. Instead, I was shocked to hear the opposite; they had arranged for me to complete my lessons with my current driving trainer. Even better, they were working on a new way to expedite lessons by using a different set of trainers. I was elated that I was not being cut off. One anxious email turned into a real blessing. I was so relieved, because I know this whole situation is out of my hands.
My driving instructor and the Rehabilitation office have continued a internal dispute that could very well effect their clients. While I'm thrilled I'm not yet a casualty in their war, I'm praying no other innocent person is either. It seems to me the current debt our state and country is in, has really brought out the worst in people. You just never know what's around the corner, so you better live for today.
This week has brought around a great opportunity for me to drive! A week off work! I'm elated. Yesterday was my first day out in over a month and let me tell you it was a "gully washer" as the old folks say. So I got in some excellent drive time and experience in the rain. The rain made the yellow and orange lines harder to see, but hey, lets face it, they were already about worn off the pavement in certain parts of town anyways. I loved the ease of using the windshield wipers on our new training vehicle. The cloudy day proved a easy drive for me. Then I heard some words come out of Jennifer's mouth that made me sit back and pause.
She said, "If you do well this week, what do you think about getting your license?" I personally think it's time, but hearing her actually say it outloud was music to my ears. Then some doubt hit me and I thought to myself....is this enough? Will it ever be enough? I'm not 100% confident yet....so should I really be driving alone now? I guess these are legitimate questions, but oddly enough even thought I want my training to end, I had not really thought about NOW as being a true ending to my training. I guess it's went on so long I stopped looking for an ending so my hopes would not get dashed. Then I couldn't help but wonder if this had to do with me or with my driving trainer's dispute with my friends at Rehabilitation. Hmmmm.....it could be both! Regardless, at some point you have to spread your wings and fly, and make your own mistakes and learn from them.....hopefully without breaking or damaging yourself or your vehicle. :) So my mind has started racing with ALL the things that I will need to do AFTER I get my license and where I'll get THE MONEY to pay for it. lol
Today's drive had it's good and bad things. Let me tell you the bad stuff first, I went form a two way to a four way street and turned into the wrong lane. I got confused some about what "outermost" is. Why should we still have to use such a antiquated word anyway? Who says that? Pierce Morgan? Anyways, this happened not once, but twice in a area I normally have no problem with. I think it's simply because it's been so long since I've traveled there I have forgot what turns I previously had memorized. Well enough of the bad stuff, now on to the good stuff.
My trainer asked me to practice parallel parking today, which I think we've only done once, maybe even twice before. Today we drove to downtown, she pointed out a spot, and man I nailed it the VERY FIRST TRY!!! I was so elated I told her I had to get out and see it. She made fun of me because my mirrors should have been proof enough. But the mirror distortions don't offer me the satisfaction I wanted to see. So I got out the car and examined my handy-work. WOW Just amazing, I probably couldn't do it again that easily with anyone else....but here's hoping. haha
The second thing I did was work on my 3 point turns. This is a piece of cake to me now, almost a joke. Nothing to work on really and that made me and my trainer happy. But along today's journey two other notable things happened. First of all, when I was downtown, not one but two pedestrians on two separate occasions walked out in front of my moving vehicle even though I had a green light. Now what exactly is this all about? Death wish? Ignorance? Dysfunctional "do not walk" signs. I don't know, but it's a good thing they scurried backwards and realized the error of their ways, because this foolishness had nothing to do with my driving at all. In addition to this added surprise element, there was new work being done on the sewer just a few blocks up from my residence. Oh the joys of this interesting dilemma.
Let me paint you a picture. The road I'm traveling on is a two way road and of course I'm traveling North on the right side of the road, when all of the sudden a see a diamond sign indicating road work ahead and to exercise extreme caution. So I slowed down and notice the cones got closer to me. Soon I man holding a "STOP" sign came into view. So I obeyed his sign. He motioned for the other traffic to continue to flow through on my left. Then after what seemed like forever, he switched his hand held sign around to say "SLOW" on the other side. So i went into the incoming traffic lane to my left to follow his direction around all the sewage work until I got back in my normal lane safely. Don't you just love these unexpected surprises? It was a small inconvenience that we went through twice for training purposes. Usually guys just motioning me forward has been my prior experience with these things. So naturally, I was delighted to see the use of actual signs. If you're anything like me you suck at reading lips and looking at questionable hand signals on the road...well not those hand signals! :)
So tomorrow will be my last day training this week. I hope we can iron a few things out, but I feel confident it will go well and I'll be very very close to getting my license in the coming weeks. How soon I purchase a car, and what I purchase is a WHOLE OTHER story. I welcome your suggestions on this issue. Here's a brief rundown of things I'd like. I know I won't get them all. Let me know what you think.
1. Excellent view out back window of vehicle.
2. No tint on vehicle (my red filters on top of extra tint make seeing too difficult)
3. I'd love a HUD, heads up display showing digital speed. (I can't see normal speedometer needles at all hardly, but hear GPS could help in this arena.)
4. I want good gas mileage.
5. I don't want a coupe, I want a four door vehicle. (truck or car or van)
6. I love riding high and feel more in control of the road.
7. I don't want to pay a ton of money for a first vehicle.
8. I want it to have good reviews and safety ratings.
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