On the day of May 24, 1999 at 2:52 PM Pacific/Daylight Savings time, I received the notation that I was to get my first driver's license from a DMV woman named Pam who was wearing a bright peach shirt. Around 2:59 PM, that very same day, I was told to stand in front of a blue sheet with my feet in the little box on the ground. My picture was then taken by a nice man who realized I had closed my eyes during the picture and it was taken again, this time with my eyes wide open. Approximately three long minutes later, I was asked to sign my name by the X on the back of a white card. After that, I picked up the card gently, gazed at it with triumph and trotted out the door of the DMV with my mother by my side.My first driving experience by myself was an eventful one. I picked up my friend Rachelle and we went to many a place. Dropped by "Zuka Juice" and a few of our friends' houses so I could gloat about receiving my legal authorization to operate a motor vehicle without a licensed driver in the passenger seat.
Not only did we chat with our pals, but we saw a few other treats while driving around town. At one corner, we gazed out the wide open windows to see two cats cat petting (having wild animal sex to put it more bluntly). At another corner, we saw an orange lounge chair that was missing a leg and was leaned lazily against a brick wall. Ironic it would have been, if we had been listening to the "Da Da Da" song, but alas, ironicy was not in our day's agenda.
Now, people say driving isn't all it's cracked up to be. Why? Many reasons. Crazy people, traffic, and the all-time favorite of teenagers still living at home; doing errands for the residential authority. But of course, being the determined driver I am, the kind who had dreams about driving her father's '84 Bronco when she was five, sluffed off the fact that I wouldn't enjoy doing the authorities dirty work. And low and behold, I have my license for no more than three hours and already must go to get ice cream and potting soil. Great combination, no? I enjoyed the tasks greatly and won't even begin to regret walking out the door with the powerful key in my hand and agreeing to trade my life and spare time over to the authority who pays my "oh, so incredible" insurance.
I close this knowledgeable rendezvous with a few more incredibly needed driving facts. In those four and a half hours of cruising, visiting friends, and running errands, I traveled 42.5 miles. It is amazing how many miles you can travel and how much gas you can burn when you have nothing better to do. You can also meet some interesting characters who can't drive worth poop and travel to distant intersections where animals are having their springtime fun.
I leave you on this final note. When gawking at the two creatures getting freaky on the sidewalk, whether worm, dog, or human being, make sure the car is in Neutral, so you don't run into the guy in front of you who is also gawking... with his eyes wide open.