I am twenty, and I cannot drive. In fact, currently I don’t even have my learners. I hate it, it’s lame, and I refuse to have kids (or get married) before I can. So why don’t I? Because I’m scared (and lazy.)

I had my learners, with about 25 hours out of the 50 required. And I had had one lesson. I was driving in my dad’s automatic, I got it, it wasn’t hard and I was enjoying it truthfully.

Then, my dad moved away, and my practice happened lesser and lesser. And then, he got sick. My mum stepped up to teach me, she had a brand new car, that happened to be manual. I jumped in the car my mum gave me instruction, and I got it started within a few minutes. Then, we stopped and tried again. And I couldn’t do it. I tried again, and couldn’t do it. Gave up for the night, and tried again another day. I tried about five times, and could not get it started. Rinse. Repeat. x 100.
The final time we tried, I’d just finished a six hour shift at Bakers Delight. I sat in the car and tried once more. And burst into tears, I’d had enough and got out the car. Pretty much refused to ever try again. I could not do it. AT ALL. The only instruction I got is “you can tell when you need to add accelerator.” I’m sorry, but this is not enough information to learn how to do it!
I refused to get in another car until I had an automatic car, I could not drive a manual, and by this stage, I’m very scared of even trying again. I’m a year into my learners, with a year left and so scared of trying. I don’t even try again even though the boy offers to teach me. I’d say okay, let’s do it and then chicken out and not do it. The next thing I know I’ve wasted and been scared until my learners expire, and I haven’t renewed them. Oh, and did you know if you let your learners expire you have to go take the test again and pay that money and all that jazz again? No, neither did I until I went to renew my learners.
So now, I’m too scared to drive a manual and so petrified about retaking the learners test even though I’ve taken it and passed easily. Lame right?

After talking to the boy *again* about it, he pulled over on our road. And just got out and told me to get into the drivers seat. I got out also, kind of begging for him not to. When I sat in the driver’s car I was freaking out. But he actually explained it, took me step by step and didn’t even get annoyed when I freaked about stupid things. (I stopped half way through several times). He explained it, made me take it really slow. The next thing I know, I heard the difference as I was releasing the clutch, AND THE CAR STARTED. I stopped it as soon as I rolled but it started. The boy put everything back to the start while I was still gobsmacked and was waiting for me to try again when I looked up. I tried it again, failed a little and then got it started AGAIN! TWICE! IN A ROW! I stopped the car and hurriedly said that was enough and ran to the passengers seat. But I did it TWICE. TWICE.

Now, must got get my learners permit again! And get in the car and get further than starting it! But yes, I DID IT! I’m so glad the boy is patient, and would actually care enough to sit with me through all my irrational fears. I want my learners permit, in the next month. That’s my goal.

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