Driving Quiz

I’ve never had a formal driving lesson. Learning to drive at my house was a gradual process. First I started sitting on mom or dad’s lap to steer up the drive way. Then when I could reach the pedals I would switch places and with mom or dad and drive up the lane myself. Then I drove the tractor, we would all take turns driving the tractor and wagon while the others picked up rocks in the field. It is actually as futile as it sounds. So I’d been practicing my driving skills for more than 10 years when I turned 16. I went to the license branch took the written test and got my permit. Then six months later I went back to the license branch took the driving test and drove home legally for the first time…..

Shortly after I got my license I was cast in a summer theater production in a larger town 30 miles from my home. Rehearsals were in the evening from 7-10 pm. My dad, concerned about the late hour I would be driving home gave me little quiz before I left for my first rehearsal:

D: So, say you are coming up to a red light at the corner of Sherman and High streets and there are some “questionable” people on the corner….what do you do?

M: I would check that the road was clear and run the red.

D: Very good. Now what would you do if the “questionable people” walked in front of you or surrounded the car?

M: Run over the one in front, then go call 9-1-1.

D: Very good…break a leg…. (Then he showed me how to dim the dash lights)

I won’t be able to teach my boys to drive the way I learned, but I am pretty sure I will still have to warn them about the “questionable” people on corners. Mimes of course……what were you thinking I meant?