Learning to drive
Sally recalls Sheila's driving lessons. They were classic!
Mom always thought it was silly to wait ‘til you had your license, or even your permit, to learn to drive. How could you learn to be a good driver if you didn’t have practice? I’m sure everyone of her kids has a few good stories of driving before they were legal. Lessons usually started off in the cemetery because, as she so wisely pointed out, most everyone there was already dead. Eventually, though, she’d let you hit the real roads.
My moment came on a 5 mile trip from the grocery store in Swanton, VT back to our summer house in Highgate Springs. I was probably 14 years old, which meant I looked 9 or 10. She asked me if I wanted to drive home, and I was thrilled. Just as we were turning onto the main road leading to Highgate, a police car pulled out of a side road and followed right behind us. A little bit of panic set in for me and I asked her what I should do?! I was sure we’d get pulled over, as I was barely tall enough to see over the steering wheel, and I excitedly suggested that she could say she was pregnant and I was taking her to the hospital!
Given her age and gray hair, she didn’t think this would sound too plausible, but I remember we both got a good chuckle out of it. She was very calm and told me to keep driving and that I was doing fine.
The police car never did pull us over, but followed us for what seemed like a long time before turning off.
When I think back on it, I’m always amazed that Mom wasn’t more concerned about what might happen if we were stopped…maybe it was the era, but then I think, maybe it was just Mom.
