This is not a warning! I repeat, this is not a warning! The rumors are true, there is a new driver on the road and his name is me. What seemed to be unlikely, dare I say, impossible has finally happened. The always-asking-for-rides Ariel is no longer! I can now relocate myself at any time through the use of a large metal shell with a motor and wheels, and if that doesn’t work, then I’ll just use my car.
Despite minimal experience and an unearned sense of overconfidence, I passed the test. After getting my permit a year late for no reason, the day I received my license always seemed so far away. As I sat behind the wheel, for the first time unaccompanied by an adult (allegedly), I felt… nothing. The experience was highly overrated.
One awesome thing about having my license is controlling the music. It’s liberation in the truest sense of the word. Every time I shuffle through my Beatles playlist, blast some Kiss, or stumble across those few random James Brown songs I have… my eyes begin to sweat.
One thing I’ve noticed as a new driver is how much roadkill there is. It’s quite alarming, yet is a great spectacle. I don’t like the idea of animals being run over, but the sight of such a thing is interesting. I feel like a tourist in the African plains until I realize you can’t get overpriced smoothies in the African plains, unless you can. I think I just found my next business idea.
Anyways, back to driving. The weirdest thing happened on the road, I went over a speed bump on the highway, which I thought was strange as I’ve never seen a speed bump on the highway before. On a totally unrelated note, I saw in the news a terrible story of a guy being run over on a highway. Drivers these days… I tell ya.
To conclude my review of my first few weeks on the road… I must say that I’ve learned something about myself and humanity itself. Every car has a story, every driver has somewhere to go, so before you get angry at someone on the road try to empathize with their situation. If you don’t have time for that, rear-end them, flash them a smile and hope they don’t flash anything back. ;)
(I was disappointed to find out that Cantor Dress wasn't there... they should really rename that place)
Happy 16th Bday bro (that's when you get your license, right?)! Congrats on the license. I have to disagree with you - driving alone is the best feeling, it's liberating, it's fast, and it's meditative. That's so weird that Cantor wasn't there - he's everywhere - school, AIPAC... lol
ReplyDeletelolll. I'm actually 12. I know driving for you is fast. 10 over the speed limit is slow for you. And even though Cantor Dress wasn't there physically, spiritually he was.
DeleteCongrats! I have to agree with Noah; driving alone, especially that first time, is an awesome feeling. Your concluding thoughts are also quite intruging, as empathy is quite rare on the road!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Very exciting. I love your point about trying to empathize with a driver if you don't like how they are driving. I always try to treat other drivers as I'd like to be treated.
ReplyDeleteThe roadkill situation is TERRIBLE. The other day? My son saw a duckling funeral when he took the dog out for a walk. There was a baby duck that had been hit by a car. The ducks were all standing around him, and then the mama duck (I assume) took the baby duck to a puddle and was washing him. THAT IS HEARTBREAKING!! I don't understand it. I have never hit an animal - I look where I'm going!
Regardless, enjoy your freedom and your personal control of the tunes (but don't get distracted when you're looking for that next song)