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March 27th, 2008: She who strives, drives.


Long ago, in the days of Greymatter and *.cgi files, I once griped about getting my permit or  more specifically – the golden ticket that legally allows me to operate a car while not knowing shit about it. I whined about there not being any Driver’s Ed classes in any High School within 50 miles of this place; I bellyached about the long ongoing race between my mom and me – because clearly I was going to be the one driving first. I really just made the hugest scene about it. Of course it’s not really necessary for a New Yorker to own a car, not with all the mediums of transportation available and especially not when at the time I was within walking distance of most everything I needed. Except for the movie theatre, where it never hurts to not have to wait in the rain for a cab. This, of course, is not the point.

The point is: I wanted it. And the grand preface was for me to officially announce that I got it! Finally! And not recently either! Oh no. It’s been sitting in my wallet, where I keep all my other cards with the bad mug shots. But I do remember mentioning I was going for it, and being true to my own procrastination, I never followed up.  I did get it though, with only one question wrong on the test. And I’ll gloat about that shit, because I’m almost certain that New York is one of the hardest places to pass any test pertaining to driving.

Am I hell on wheels yet? No. And boy, I have tried. Spent a few Saturdays meandering around with my friend Ree – shopping for whatever – and actually bumped into my aunt and cousin. They have a car that they very rarely use.

It’s a huge SUV, people - Another one of my dreams from my Greymatter days that haven’t been forgotten. I wanted in. I wanted in badly.

When I told them about my permit, they congratulated me. And when I asked them to teach me how to drive – You know, because we never spend any time together, and all – They laughed. They laughed at me. And they kept laughing all the way to a car that I couldn’t see from where I was standing with my mouth hanging open, and therefore couldn’t follow. I was not discouraged. I kept asking around, and to no avail. This was not a free-of –charge favor I was asking for! I would’ve foot the bill for gas and gave nice gratuities had someone said they were going to teach me and followed through.

So, my beloved best and I have been busy. Her daughter – who, by the way, suffers from Advanced Cuteness – just hit the Big 3. Helping with the set up, attending, being the jungle gym for all the little party goers, and helping with the clean up in between everything else going on would naturally be chaos. I did squeeze in a little networking, though: My dear friends Erica and her husband have tentatively agreed to teach me, and so did Ree’s mom, once the spring comes and brings all the gorgeous weather. Or at least when I’m sure it’s not going to fucking snow.  I don’t trust March at all, which is great since it’s almost over. Wish me luck; my grand plan depends of me knowing how to operate a vehicle.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 10:20 pm and is filed under Friends and family and Life: written. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.



13 Responses to “She who strives, drives.”


  1. JC on March 28th, 2008 at 1:01 am

    I can’t imagine having to learn how to drive in New York! I have this picture of scary, thick accented taxi drivers yelling and honking their horn at you. Gah! That might deter me but you seem determine Dee so I wish you the best of luck! And be safe! LOL

  2. Shannon on March 28th, 2008 at 1:01 am

    Congratulations on the permit! I’m terribly afraid of riding in cars, I’m not even sure I’ll ever learn how to drive. I think I would be too scared lol. I’ve thought about it, though. I think that the best thing for me to do is to at LEAST get my permit, so that when I am ready for that big step, I’ll be halfway there.

  3. Sara on March 28th, 2008 at 11:16 am

    Ugh, I know how that is. When I got my permit it took my Grandmother 3 months to get a driving-school lined up. She wouldn’t even let my Grandfather, or my two older brothers and one older sister teach me to drive. -__-

    :’D I hopes you can gets some drive-time soon! Having a permit and not using it is kinda like having cash but not being able to use it! (Well, that’s hard for me anyway B] )

  4. Cher on March 28th, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    Lol, I still need my permit. Good luck on learning to drive, I need to learn too. You live in NY? Wow, I never knew that until just now. I do too!!

  5. RRC on March 29th, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    ummmmmmm yeah you got that shit a long ass time ago. i thought you were about to say you got your license.. i wouldve killed you had you let e-people in the know first. btw……. your # has been busy when i call. i needed to tell you something!

  6. Shanice on March 29th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    Its amazing how there are such huge culture differences! I am down south and we get permits at 15 and licenses at 16. I don’t even want to think about life without my licenses and my car! We have public transportation here but I don’t think it is as accessible as it is in NY. Most of us down here need our cars, we don’t have much of a choice. But congrats on getting your permit!

  7. Theresa on March 29th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    It definitely goes to show the difference in where I am living compared to New York, a bigger city. While Wichita is the biggest city in Kansas, it’s nothing like the east coast (which is where I’m originally from). I’m 23 and have been driving with my license since I was 18. It’s a necessity around here. To get anywhere you need to go requires more then just a walk a few blocks away or an easy taxi ride. The public transportation system here SUCKS so if you want to do anything when it needs to be done you need your own.

  8. lacey on March 30th, 2008 at 4:03 am

    oh good for you! i’m getting mine too! did you know new york was the first state to require people to take a test in order to drive? interesting, eh? lol no? aw…okay… love you later chica!

  9. Laura on March 30th, 2008 at 8:25 am

    Oh, what a pretty nice page..Is it a vexel from you on the top of your page?
    I like your smilies, I think I’ll take some of them for my next layout.
    I’m sorry for my english that it isn’t as well as yours but I’m only learning it in school.
    Greetings from Germany

  10. Lauren on March 30th, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    I guess Florida has it’s benefits, since I do know how to drive. However, I’d love to just visitt New York. Which I plan on doing, one day, or course. Just not today. Or tomorrow. The hardest part about driving is just getting used to it. Spend some time in a car and you’ll adapt. Of course, I’ve never driven in New York. I live in a fairly small town with minimal traffic.

  11. claire on March 31st, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    that how i was with this drop down menu on my site lol. i didn’t know what the heck i was doing but i wanted it on there so i worked like 6 hours to get it. i think i haven’t thought so hard in a long time lmbortf!!!!!! congrats on your car. it’s time for me to get one. i live in indiana so having a car is a very big plus.

  12. Helga on April 5th, 2008 at 7:06 pm

    Congratulations! I’m turning 23 and I still have no plans of learning how to drive :P

  13. Jenny on April 8th, 2008 at 10:07 am

    I still don’t have my liscense either. I suck at remembering anything important (figures right?) so I keep failing the written test. But I shall win one day!!


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