Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Drive Me Crazy

It's time for me to settle down and get married. What's that? I did that already? Huh. Okay. It's time for me to start thinking about children. What? I did that, too? So that means I'm a grown-up, right? *whisper whisper* Oooooh, yeah. I forgot. There's one little thing I've forgotten to do on my path to adulthood. Um... learn to drive. While I DO acknowledge the teensy fact of promising Paul I'd do that before the wedding, I had a lot to do! I was planning the single most important day in our lives up to now. So, he gave me a break, and insisted I must learn to drive before we have kids. Until we decided to go off birth control next week.

Paul said to me last night, "Wow! You're going to be driving soon! Are you excited?" I said, "Wha?" And he said, "Don't think I forgot, and you have to know the DMV doesn't let pregnant women take the driving test." Such a bastard. I said, "Um, pregnant women are allowed to DRIVE for crying out loud." His reply? "Yes, but they're not allowed to take the test, it's too dangerous." Let me tell you this, Paul is not a moron. I know he's trying to trick me into keeping my word. Ha. How's that for being a jerk? "Trick me into keeping my word". Nice. Anyway, I guess I must actually get down to studying for that damn drivers test.

Yes, I am terrified of driving. I don't know why, to be honest. I realize my not driving is so selfish of me, making my poor husband do all the driving. Seriously, I KNOW all this. The fear is just something I can't control. It truly makes no sense to not drive in Los Angeles. So, I will start my healing breathing exercises and get my rump studying the CA DMV book. Wish me luck (and stay off the streets!)!

3 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Lol! Good Luck! If it makes you feel better, I was 18 before I started driving, in a state where you could get a permit at 15. It was scary for me, too, but now I am a pro...Hey, I drive in Jersey don't I?!

And "Fata" is fine, but you can actually call me Beth, if you want to. ;)

Kj said...

Amber, I was scared, scared, scared, scared to drive too. I failed (sshhh, don't tell anyone) the first time because I was so nervous and scared. My body was a big sweaty mess (forgot, you don't sweat) and I was trembling, literally trembling when I took my first drivers test. How did I fail the test? I made a right turn on a red light not seeing the big sign and "thinking" oh yeah, in California you're supposed to turn on red....

The examiner actually told me I was a good driver and knew how to drive well but was obviously feeling really nervous and just needed to calm down.

and oh... my idea of driving on my own for the first time was to take Wilshire from Fairfax to Westwood in rush hour. I figured cars would be going a lot slower and it wouldn't hurt so much when thy hit me :-) I did the same thing with the freeway too. Boy was that a white knuckle ride for the first dozen times...

nellie said...

Amber: I have a license and didn't drive for years until I was forced to out of necessity while living in Seattle! In NYC, I NEVER drive. Poor Chad does all the driving. I totally understand the anxiety, but once you have to do it... it's not so bad. I don't mind driving alone... I just get freaked when there is someone else in the car with me!