Aug 6

Aug 6 BREATHE, MAMA

‘Doesn’t everyone need to use their blinkers?’, my son asked as we waited at a stoplight by my work office.

‘Yes, of course’, I replied. ‘But not many people do’.

‘That Challenger didn’t use it. And I saw at least ten cars that didn’t use their blinkers to turn lanes’, he continued.

It’s unfortunate that the rules of the road are not followed through in real life. That new drivers are met with seeming untruths and ruthless drivers.

This morning, as I was getting ready to drive to work, my son was suddenly awake and willing to go to work with me. Unlike the many times before when he would prefer to stay at home. But when it comes to getting a chance to do something that benefits him, he was up and ready to go within minutes.

I was hesitant to take the next step of our driving lessons, as the drive to work involved a steep hill and merging onto highways. My son assured me that he could do it. He was not wrong as he did quite well for his first time.

Along the way, there were several inconsiderate drivers cutting us off, despite the fact that we had three of those magnetic ‘STUDENT DRIVER | PLEASE BE PATIENT’ magnets on the sides and back of our minivan. We had to be in the left-hand lane due to our having to pass at some point. And my wanting to limit his having to switch lanes often.

‘Stay in this lane and turn left’, I instructed him with words and my hands as we waited to make the turn from FM 2222 onto Highway 360.

‘What’s ‘this’ lane?!’ he shot back.

‘This lane is the one we are in. Not that lane’, I said, pointing to the lane to the right of us.

The light turned green and my son slowly made his way onto the on-ramp. The next step was merging onto the highway. Luckily, there were no cars approaching. This time.

After I finished the work that needed to be done, I considered driving back myself.

‘I can do it’, I heard my son tell me.

So, we continued with the driving lessons. Now he had to merge the opposite way. From Highway 360 onto FM 2222. This way proved to be a bit tricky as there was a large yellow DHL van behind us which was blocking my son’s view of the oncoming traffic. Apparently, that same van was delivering a package at work when we left. As my son inched forward, the van let my son know that he could go.

‘Breathe, Mama’, I heard my son say at some point.

I have to admit that I did hold my breath a few times, but I also realised that my son needs to gain the experience of driving under various circumstances.

Once home, my son waited patiently as I prepared the checks to take to the bank. Then he drove me there as well.

‘I’m not used to seeing you with anyone’, I heard Amber tell me as she saw me waiting for the other teller to hand me the deposit receipt.

‘My son’s learning to drive’, I replied.

‘Oh, you’re brave’, she stated. I watched as she finished helping an elderly couple. They looked over our way and smiled. I heard the wife say she was 92 years old. Her husband said he would be turning 90 next week. The lady’s demeanor was incredible for her age. Though she had a cane, she did not seem frail or that she needed to depend on it too much.

As we walked outside to our car, we noticed that she was driving. I was in awe at seeing a 92-year-old person still able to drive.

‘I hope I live as long as you do’, I told the lady. There were many things I would have wanted to ask them as I find older people so kind and full of wisdom. And I can’t help but be curious.

We made our way home, with my son driving back. The driving lessons were over for today.