First, a public service announcement: The Hunger Site, the Breast Cancer Site, and the Rainforest Site, which I shamelessly plug all the time, have set goals. The BCS has pledged to earn enough for 250 mammograms for needy women by the end of the month, so if you have an extra few seconds, just pop over and
click -- it won't cost you a thing. Also, the
Hunger Site has pledged six million cups of food in six weeks, and the
Rainforest Site 75 million square feet by the end of the year. It's all for charity, and it's about the simplest thing you can do.
Second, a frenzied happy dance because
I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST!!! Oh my gosh. So, the story. My appointment was at 10:30, so I drove to MVA with my mom. The lines were crazy when we got there, and I think they were short a few instructors, so we had to wait until about 11 before we were sent out to wait in line. I actually missed the turn, so I had to come back around. The girl who was supposed to be after me got ahead -- she was driving a Lexus! What sane parent lets their teenager
practice in a Lexus? That's what the Honda's for, people.
So the instructor got in, a big black guy. He asked how I was doing, so I answered honestly, "I'm kinda nervous, but I can do this." He said, "That's right," and I calmed down a little. But just a tad. He asked me to open the door, so I did, but then I had to wait for the power lock motor to stop so I could relock it. I hate those spastic locks. We drove out onto the course, and I was good to go. I used my signal, and went slow, and backed straight. In the turnabout, I forgot I was still in reverse, so I lost two points for that. I remembered to stop at all the signs along the way, and I paid very little attention to Lexus girl ahead of me.
Oh, the parallel parking. The part that usually causes people to fail. I almost started too far away, but I had one more set of flags to go for, so I pulled up and over some more. I did all the right shifting and turning, but then he opened the door and said, "Okay, you need to get about a foot closer to the curb." I was like, "Damn." But I remembered how my mom taught me to get closer, and I did it. He opened the door again, and said, "Perfect." I was ecstatic. I've been hearing that word in my head for hours. "Perfect." Yeah, it took me two tries to get to perfect, but I didn't screw anything else up in the process. I remembered that crucial final stop sign and pulled into the parking lot again. He said, "Congratulations, you passed," and I burst into a happy dance. It felt
so good. My mom drove back around and brought me my book for the hour-long wait. I took a new crappy picture, and finally got to leave for Wendy's at 1:15 or so. Then I drove home and backed into my "space" with some help from my mom.
Wow. A Thing actually turned out okay. Maybe there's some hope yet. Movies tonight with Greg,
The Cat in the Hat. I've heard mixed reviews, but we'll see. It feels odd to have done something positive today, but it feels good, too. So good.
