Have Wheels, Will Travel

I was thinking about the fact that Tonya lent me her car for over a week. Not to sound selfish, but I could never lend someone my only mode of transportation for that long without having a nervous breakdown. Even if I have nowhere to go I have always needed to know that my car was close and available whenever I might need it. I have done quite a bit of thought about this over the years. You see I have always liked to psychoanalyze myself.

So this is my analysis:

#1 It is because I never had a driver's license or a car until I was 27. Hard to believe, right? After all, I wasn't born in the dark ages. Yes, I had a Learner's Permit when I was 15 and I took Driver's Ed in school. My mom let me drive once (yes, just once) in the shopping center parking lot when the store was closed and there were no cars in the parking lot. She saw no reason for me to drive since I wouldn't be driving her car and I would have to wait until I had a job and bought my own car and insurance. I did work but my meager income went for clothes and school. My mom never had a driver's license until she was in her 40's. My dad would have been okay with using his car (only when necessary), but mom had the last say on the kids. At seventeen I left home. I did drive a friend part way back from the Midwest to Maryland once when I was barely 18. She said I made her nervous because I drove too close to the right. Yes, I have heard that since then also. I also turn corners too fast.

#2 When I was in my mid 20's my father-in-law wanted to take me driving because he thought I should have my license. Husband #1 thought that was ridiculous because he was the one with the car and what would I have to drive and why would I need to drive. He felt it worked out well the way I packed my two kids up in the one kid stroller with the laundry and the groceries. What in the world did I need to drive for. I walked the kids to school each morning and walked to work then walked home from work and walked to pick the kids up at daycare. What would a woman need a car for?

#3 Husband #2 was very supportive of me driving. I was petrified and wanted some practice but he wouldn't hear it. I couldn't drive a stick so he got me the driving book to study and had my sister-in-law pick me up and take me to the DMV for the test. I took my first test in a Pacer. I figured that alone would get me flunked. The poor man who tested me said I needed some practice. He could tell I didn't have much experience behind the wheel. Hell, I hadn't been behind the wheel in nine years. I think I did pretty good considering. Can you believe he passed me? Either I caught him on a good day or he was afraid I would come back and it would be his luck to have to ride with me again.

I finally had a driver's license and I had $100.00 dollars. I carried myself, with my new found independence, to the local car lot. You should have seen the salesman's face when I asked if he had anything for $100.00. It was a Kodak moment. I was embarrassed but more determined than ever. He said "lady, I got three cars over there (way out in the corner hidden) and they've been sitting there for years. If you can get one of them started you can have it for $200.00". I went home and for the first time in my life I asked my father for a loan. This was very difficult for me, but I knew I needed a car. He didn't give me a loan but he did give me $100.00. Four days later I was back at that car lot and became the proud owner of a 1960 something Dodge Dart and was light blue. It wasn't the one with fins or the classic 2 door. It must have been 1964 or earlier though because it had the push button transmission. This was 1978 but you would have thought it was a new Mercedes. I was so proud of that car. I would get very upset when people would make their snide remarks. It was almost like a child that I had to protect and defend.

So from that moment on I felt I needed my car to really feel independent. When I was married and we went somewhere, I always liked to take my own car. It was mainly because if it got late or the party got out of hand I wanted to be able to take my kids home. I was not

comfortable with being somewhere and not having my own transportation. I never wanted to have to beg for a ride or have to wait for a drunken husband to listen to reason. Kids are tired and momma's tired (or disgusted or fed up), I'm going home. Good night all.