Friday, March 12, 2010

Flashback Friday



Today I'm joining Mocha With Linda for her new meme Flashback Friday.

This week's flashback: How and when did you learn to drive? Do you have any particular memories associated with getting your driver license? How old were you when you got your first car and what was it? Who paid for it?

My flashback:
I took the driver education class offered through the school. I guess it was the end of my sophomore year, I can't remember for sure. The class portion was held in the mornings before school for a few weeks. Then my driving portion was in the morning the first few weeks of summer vacation. I had never driven before so it was quite an experience. My instructor was a coach, and I remember how nervous I was that I'd do everything wrong. The other two students had plenty of driving experience. I remember at one particular corner in town he wanted me to turn and I pushed on the gas instead of the brake. The coach had to use the brake on his side to slow us down!

One thing I remember is driving home with my Mom the first day on the highway after I got my learner's permit. A police car started following, I was so nervous!

I remember my Dad telling me when to start applying the break going down the hills toward our home.

My parents got me my first car when I was in high school. It was a used grey 1981 Datsun Nissan. I had it through college. I have many memories of that little car, like picking up my cousin for after school snacks, spinning around in the high school parking lot one icy morning (thankfully it was pretty empty at the time!), driving to the grocery store with the little girl I baby sat in college (she got some Little Debbies out of a bag and was going to throw them to the back and I was afraid she was going to get the eggs and throw them next), and going back and forth from home to college.

Have a day of blessings!

9 comments:

SusanD said...

Great story. Thanks so much for sharing. Have a great weekend. Blessings, SusanD

Denise said...

Fun post.

Mocha with Linda said...

What a fun story! I guess it really is a good thing the instructor had a brake!

I still get nervous if there's a policeman behind or beside me!

Melli said...

First, I LOVE your blog skin! It's wonderful!

And what great memories! Oh, I think I would have died of embarrassment if the instructor had to use his brake -- or (when I took the class they still had a) steering wheel!

I never went out to PLAY on ice when I was driving... maybe I should have!

Barbara H. said...

I wished for those passenger-side brakes when my guys were learning to drive. :-)

Kim said...

Isn't it funny how we can have so many memories from our first car and almost none from those that followed?

I can imagine how nervous you were when the little girl started throwing things. LOL

Great story!

Loren said...

Oh wow! what great memories :0) Now that we know how to drive ....can you imagine being a drivers ed teacher???? Man, they have patience and are so brave aren't they ;)

My daughter went to a special place for drivers ed. We paid the company and they came and picked her up and taught her soooo much more than what the school system ever taught me! He also took her to her test (I was able to go with them) but it was AWESOME!!
Have a blessed weekend friend!

Nel said...

What a fun memory, we had a whole semester of driving. Thanks for sharing.

until next time... nel

Karen said...

I enjoyed this story. Yes, I remember getting my license was a big deal! God bless you and have a great week.