Driving Them Crazy

I think I'm starting to understand why it is that parents have a hard time when their children finally reach the "driving stage" of life. I know that my poor parents had no ability to replicate what I could make our small four door car do. That car hiccupped, wiggled, jumped and jived...though not often in a movement conducive to regular road travel. Sad day...at least for them. I actually didn't get my license until I was 19-this summer, in fact, right before coming back to school. Finally, I could drive.

It's funny how that made me feel different...even though it didn't really change anything about life...I still didn't have a car, I still use UTA, and I still enjoy walking.

My poor friend though, is currently in the "learning to drive" stage. For the sake of everything, let's call him Buddy.

In Buddy's family, you're not allowed to get your learners permit until you've gotten your Eagle, or your YW medallion. Buddy had just finished up presenting his project to the council, and was waiting in the Honda for his mom to come out once she was done with everything she needed to do.

Now, it was cold outside, as it tends to be this time of year. and Buddy decided that it'd be good to turn on the heater-a sensible choice, for a sensible young man.

He tried to turn on the heater and for some reason he thought he had to turn on the car...I don't know why he thought that...

He somehow popped the clutch and careened over the parking stopper thing, over the corner of a short brick wall, between 2 parked cars (he dinged one), past Scouters standing in the parking lot, through two parked cars scrapping and denting the passenger door (but missing the pickup that would have totaled the Honda and hurt him), past the parking lot blacktop edge, past 2 trees into the field about 1/2 way to that little church next to the scout office.

Apparently he didn't know how to stop the car and when he tried he hit the gas instead of the brake, and so he just turned the ignition off as soon as he made it through the parking lot.

Seems like a logical solution to me. Poor Buddy now doesn't really have any desire to drive...which is sad. I'm sure he'll do fine after a little bit of Driver's Ed, and some practice with someone who can tell him what he's doing...

Poor guy-best of luck Buddy...driving really can be quite enjoyable.