My daughter is a 21-year-old college senior living in Pittsburgh. When she moved into an apartment she decided she was going to take her car to school with her despite my fears. Even though the city of Pittsburgh was recently rated as having the some of the worst drivers in the country, Grace is doing just fine. I am amazed at how she navigates the Parkway traffic and the daily commuters.
But back when she turned 16 she begged us to allow her to get her permit. I had the perfect comeback at the time–I had been planning it since she was six. Because she was born in January, there was just no way she could get her permit when the weather was so bad. We would wait until spring. Period.
So when the weather cleared, I spent my spring and early summer clutching the armrest and pounding the imaginary brake on the floorboard of the passenger side of the car. I would clench my teeth and try to calmly explain that nothing good ever came of driving in the middle of the road. And turns–on, the turns! It was amazing to me how someone could brake while driving UP a hill and yet barely slow down when making a sharp right-hand turn.
Usually I begged off the driving lesson and gave the privilege to my wife. Yes, there were tears and high pitched screams. But honestly I wasn’t that loud.
The state law was that you had to wait six months before you could take your driving test. Way back in March, my Gracie pulled out her calendar and pinpointed the day. She was all set to take the test. One evening she asked us if she could drive her friends to the beach once she passed her test.
After I finished choking on my dinner, I explained that the new laws prevented new drivers from carting around that many people. Whew.
But when her big day came, she passed with flying colors. That didn’t mean that I was at ease with the situation at all. If I had my way, she would still be in the car seat.
At the time, I realized I didn’t have to worry about her driving to the beach anytime soon. The night she got her license, she took her first solo trip to the grocery store. She had lived in the same house her entire life. The store is just three miles away. She got lost.
I don’t think I slept for the next three years.