Zoom Zoom
Today was the fateful day.
The day of my N/Road Test.
I awoke and began the day by burning my forehead with my straightening iron, followed by a quick cup of coffee. From there I went on my third and final driving lesson. My instructor, Richard, was a little nervous for me. My shoulder checks weren't quite making as many appearances as they should've, my parking was less than adequate and my intersection comfort level hadn't exactly increased. He said if I practiced a little parking and did more shoulder checks I should be okay. Giving me 2 hours to work on that. Without the use of a car at home.
...sweet.
Daddy arrived home around 11 and we chilled for a while. I tried to get in the zone. I read, listened to some calm, Jesus-loving music, breathed a lot, probably blinked and swallowed too. At aprox. 11:30am we pulled out, well me to be exact with a left turn signal and shoulder check. I glided my way through traffic like a wave pushing through water. It was beautiful. Okay, I'll admit, when I pulled into the parking stall reserved for road tests it wasn't the best parking the world's ever seen, but it was in between the lines (and maybe slightly on one...)! We walked into that much loved ICBC office and handed them the necessary ID, smiled, and waited to be called up. Finally my name was called and I signed a form and stood there listening to words I probably should've tried to remember. Then, the moment that would most likely decide my fate arrived: the name of my driving instructor.
"Alright Lauren! You're all set to go and your papers are ready. Your appointment's for 12:45pm so you just sit tight and when the instructor arrives they'll call your name. Let's just see who that is, hm? Alright (lots of keys clicking) it's Jerry! Shouldn't be long."
This, was really more important that any shoulder check could ever be to me. JERRY! I GOT JERRY! See, he is famous amongst the teens around here, due to the fact that he's the most forgiving examiner. Easiest to pass, hardest to fail deal. From there on in I didn't feel a ping of nervousness. I had Jerry.
Jerry arrived and for the first time I saw the man behind the name. He was a guy. A guy in his 40s I guess. Anyway. He asked me to hop in the car and do a few routine things. Jerry stood outside while I sat in the driver's seat, window open, following his commands. Left signal, right signal, headlights, hazards. Then...then he asked for high beams. I stared at the driving wheel in despair. I had the headlights on. It had to be on the same switch. Before I knew it I'd hit every turn signal and windsheild wiper combo when finally, I smacked the thing on the left and, voila! High beams! All went fairly well. However the worst point was when he asked me to parallel park. It's not that I'm bad at it. I just didn't know how to. Sending up a prayer, I pulled up next to the white SUV as he had requested and began running through steps that seemed fairly logical in my head. Went behind the car, got next to the curb perfectly, put the wheels straight and set that baby into park. A little shy I turned to face the examiner...
"You know, that was the best parallel park I've seen in the past week!"
"...you're being serious??????"
"yes! It was excellent. Perfect."
"...I've never parallel parked in my life before..."
"...okay well let's go now."
Brilliant! Miracle story of the day right there. Eventually we ended up back at the ICBC place where I sat in incredible anticipation as he went on and on about my driving and mistakes and good things and potholes. Just as I was begining to lose hope he stuck out his hand and said
"let's head inside and get you a license then, congratulations on passing!"
....
I CAN DRIVE. Frickin scary.
The day of my N/Road Test.
I awoke and began the day by burning my forehead with my straightening iron, followed by a quick cup of coffee. From there I went on my third and final driving lesson. My instructor, Richard, was a little nervous for me. My shoulder checks weren't quite making as many appearances as they should've, my parking was less than adequate and my intersection comfort level hadn't exactly increased. He said if I practiced a little parking and did more shoulder checks I should be okay. Giving me 2 hours to work on that. Without the use of a car at home.
...sweet.
Daddy arrived home around 11 and we chilled for a while. I tried to get in the zone. I read, listened to some calm, Jesus-loving music, breathed a lot, probably blinked and swallowed too. At aprox. 11:30am we pulled out, well me to be exact with a left turn signal and shoulder check. I glided my way through traffic like a wave pushing through water. It was beautiful. Okay, I'll admit, when I pulled into the parking stall reserved for road tests it wasn't the best parking the world's ever seen, but it was in between the lines (and maybe slightly on one...)! We walked into that much loved ICBC office and handed them the necessary ID, smiled, and waited to be called up. Finally my name was called and I signed a form and stood there listening to words I probably should've tried to remember. Then, the moment that would most likely decide my fate arrived: the name of my driving instructor.
"Alright Lauren! You're all set to go and your papers are ready. Your appointment's for 12:45pm so you just sit tight and when the instructor arrives they'll call your name. Let's just see who that is, hm? Alright (lots of keys clicking) it's Jerry! Shouldn't be long."
This, was really more important that any shoulder check could ever be to me. JERRY! I GOT JERRY! See, he is famous amongst the teens around here, due to the fact that he's the most forgiving examiner. Easiest to pass, hardest to fail deal. From there on in I didn't feel a ping of nervousness. I had Jerry.
Jerry arrived and for the first time I saw the man behind the name. He was a guy. A guy in his 40s I guess. Anyway. He asked me to hop in the car and do a few routine things. Jerry stood outside while I sat in the driver's seat, window open, following his commands. Left signal, right signal, headlights, hazards. Then...then he asked for high beams. I stared at the driving wheel in despair. I had the headlights on. It had to be on the same switch. Before I knew it I'd hit every turn signal and windsheild wiper combo when finally, I smacked the thing on the left and, voila! High beams! All went fairly well. However the worst point was when he asked me to parallel park. It's not that I'm bad at it. I just didn't know how to. Sending up a prayer, I pulled up next to the white SUV as he had requested and began running through steps that seemed fairly logical in my head. Went behind the car, got next to the curb perfectly, put the wheels straight and set that baby into park. A little shy I turned to face the examiner...
"You know, that was the best parallel park I've seen in the past week!"
"...you're being serious??????"
"yes! It was excellent. Perfect."
"...I've never parallel parked in my life before..."
"...okay well let's go now."
Brilliant! Miracle story of the day right there. Eventually we ended up back at the ICBC place where I sat in incredible anticipation as he went on and on about my driving and mistakes and good things and potholes. Just as I was begining to lose hope he stuck out his hand and said
"let's head inside and get you a license then, congratulations on passing!"
....
I CAN DRIVE. Frickin scary.
posted by Lauren at 11:03 PM
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