Learning To Drive, 2005, by Jacqui M.

From MemoryArchive

Who:  Jacqui M
What:  Learning To Drive
When:  January 2005
Where:  Wisconsin

Learning To Drive

Although some more than others, everyone makes mistakes while learning to drive. Take me for example. I made many mistakes, but one of them tops it off.

Since I have a June birthday I didn’t receive my permit until December; therefore, I began learning to drive in the winter. This particular night my brother, mom, and I were picking my sister up from a gymnastics meet. Of course my sister wasn’t ready when we showed up, so I proceeded to park the car. After waiting a good 25 minutes for her to show up, she calls and says she’ll be out in a few seconds, so I turn on the car. Another five minutes passes and she calls, asking to be picked up at the front doors because it was snowing out. Glad that she was finally ready to go, I go to reverse the car out of the stall.

Or so I thought it was in reverse; when in reality, it was in drive. I look behind me and step on the gas thinking my car will be moving backwards; but no, it crashes into the 6 foot snow bank directly ahead of us. I can remember the look of sheer terror I saw on my brother’s face in the backseat while flying into the snow bank; it was hilarious. I remember my mom bracing herself and pushing herself as far back as humanly possible in the seat without going right through it. And, I remember hoping to God that no one I knew saw me do such a ridiculously stupid thing. Sitting there in the snow bank, there was no damage done to the car that I knew of at the time, and all I could do was laugh.

After my mom finished her small fit, she told me to make sure the car was in reverse, and get out of the snow bank. Well, that would have worked nicely, except for apparently the car had gotten lodged on a large chunk of ice and wouldn’t budge. After trying to get out with just the gas a few times, we concluded that that wasn’t going to work. First, my mom tried to push it out herself, and that didn’t work. Then my brother helped, who really proved to be no help at all. Finally, we had to recruit the help of two other ladies my mom knew to help us free the car. By that time, my sister had decided to walk out on her own since we had taken so long, and just started cracking up at the sight of three ladies pushing a car out of a snow bank. And thankfully, it worked. The car was freed with only minor damage to the license plate and some random pipe underneath the front of the car (I have no idea of the name).

What did I learn? Always double check what gear the car is in before you take off; otherwise, it will most likely result in a possibly funny, but unpleasant experience.