Cider Press Hill

On the road

A few nights ago, I was pulled over by a friendly New Hampshire police officer who kindly let me know that one of my tail lights was out. He was nice enough to let me go with a warning. So, I’ve been mega-paranoid about driving at night and yet, still put off going to the service station to have the tail light fixed. Now that the lad is working the graveyard shift, I am routinely out rather late at night and I finally decided to do myself the favor and have the darned thing fixed today.

Like a lot of things we put off...and put off...and put off...having the lightbulb changed was done in no time. Now I’m legal again and that nagging worry is removed from my shoulders. It was definitely worth the six minutes and $7.00.

On my way back home, I also had the interesting experience of giving someone’s dad near heart failure and a few new gray hairs. His daughter was in the driver’s seat and he was taking her out driving. She must have been rather new at it. I came to a small intersection where I had the right of way to make a left hand turn onto a side street, but she decided that she had the right of way to merge into traffic. We came pretty close to hitting each other. Dad had an absolutely stricken look on his face (I’d have hit him) and man was he yelling at her to STOP! STOP! STOP!!!! I felt sorry for her...and for him. Been there. I guess that’s what we call a learning experience. When the car is involved, it’s pretty unnerving. I smiled at both of them. Really. The thought that flitted through my mind was, “I’m not the only one! It really is universal!” Somehow that made me feel better.

Posted on 08/07/06 at 04:24 PM
 




pablo

I had a similar experience a few weeks ago with an obviously new driver and his mother. I would have been the one getting hit though. The kid, who had come into my lane, looked at me as though I were an idiot to be in his way. The mother just offered an exasperated smile of apology. I saw a news headline recently of a studen driver who had an accident and actually killed his mother in the passenger seat. Terrible.

United States   Posted by pablo on 08/08/06  at  05:33 AM





Kate

I do believe that some kids just aren’t ready to drive at the legal age. Some don’t seem to have the developed coordination to drive. The lad was one such kid and came awfully close to turning me into a grease spot a couple of times. His Dad, too. We both agreed that driving was not a happening thing for him until he’s older. The lad agreed, actually. He has good friends who are good drivers so it hasn’t put a crimp in his getting around style and I don’t regret the decision one bit. Next summer, we’ll try again.

The unfortunate thing, I might add, is that NOT having a drivers license for an adult is a problem. No legal identification (aside from the passport, which is a pain in the neck to have to carry around).

United States   Posted by Kate on 08/08/06  at  10:47 AM





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