Flashback Friday #248

Getting My Driver's License



Hello, all. Long time no see. I'm not going to get into why I was gone. I'm here again and that's all that matters.

As you can see from my title, this was a big day for me. Actually, it was a big four days. "Four days?", you may ask. Yes, let me explain.

I had driven many hours with Mom & Dad and it was time for me to go take my driver's test. Dad let me drive to our county seat. When we parked, we went into the Highway Patrol office to sign up. When it was my turn, a hulking officer escorted me out to our car. As I was backing out of the parking space, he barked "Stop the car!". Startled, I did. He said if I continued the course I was backing, I would scrape the car next to us. Oh boy. What a beginning.

He took me on some of the side streets And while driving, he would say "Turn left." or "Turn right." After one of the "Turn left." commands, he said, "We'll head back to the office now. You failed to stop at that stop sign back there." I didn't remember any stop sign. I figured if I argued with him, he could make my life very miserable. When we got back, I took the manuverability test. I was so rattled that I failed it miserably.

My second attempt went just about as good. I went left of center (I can't imagine that) and my second driver's test was toast. Ditto for the parking test. When I told a couple of my friends of the troubles that I had, they said that they had heard that the officer there didn't like giving driver's licenses to guys because he believed taht all guys want to hot-rod around. That was enough for me. I talked to my folks and we decided that we would go to a neighboring county to take my test the next time.

Now it was time to take my test again. third times the charm, right? When we got to the Highway Patol post, a very nice female officer took me out for my test. She questioned why I went out of county to take my test. I told her of my struggles with the big, burley officer. She smiled and said "I hope I don't make you nervous like that." She didn't. I passed the driving test, but once again, I failed the parallel parking test. Once again I headed back to the Highway Patrol office. I had already passed my driving test, so all I had to do was to take the parking test. No pressure or anything, but if you fail to get your license after four attempts, your driver's permit is invalidated and you have to start all over again. This time, I did pass and it was time to get my picture taken. When I got my license, I didn't care for the picture on it (who does?), but that didn't matter. I had my driver's license. Woo Hoo!!!