Whats going on in the World

[jpd]

Changing times.

Avenger Jr. took forever to get his license. Passed the test on the first try but is still a very anxious driver and avoids it whenever he can. None of my peers can comprehend it. We couldn't wait to get our licenses.

At least he hasn't dismissed it with "I'll just Uber."

My friend didn't get her license until her mid 30's - when she had a son and needed one to get him around.
She is an extremely anxious driver, avoids railroad crossings, parkways, highways, etc.

 

[AllyKat]

My kids couldn't wait. and my son who is the youngest was deathly afraid of not passing the first time because both his sisters got theirs on the first try.
I have a friend who's son just started college and still doesn't have a license, but commutes to school either with a relative or the bus...an 1 1/2 hour ordeal. I partly think it's the parents are afraid to let him drive because the dad doesn't take him driving and said he is taking a course that starts in 2027. I've offered to teach him, but that didn't go over well...they think I'm too hard on my kids. I don't think they understand the concept of you have to stop treating them like children if you want them to turn into responsible adults.

 

[Chinacat]

Different world to say the least
I grew up with dirt bikes and motorcycles and at 13 years old would leave from home in CM and ride deep into the woods in Manorville
By time I was 14 my grandfather would take me up into the way back roads of Manorville and I learned to drive using a stick shift
The day I turned 16 we were on a family trip to FLA and I was so pissed I couldn’t go to DMV on my birthday to get my permit
I think I made such a fuss my dad took me very soon after we got home in May and by middle of summer before Junior year started I passed my road test 1st try in a 1973 4 door Buick LeSabre and had my license

 

[OVERBORED]

Different world to say the least
I grew up with dirt bikes and motorcycles and at 13 years old would leave from home in CM and ride deep into the woods in Manorville
By time I was 14 my grandfather would take me up into the way back roads of Manorville and I learned to drive using a stick shift
The day I turned 16 we were on a family trip to FLA and I was so pissed I couldn’t go to DMV on my birthday to get my permit
I think I made such a fuss my dad took me very soon after we got home in May and by middle of summer before Junior year started I passed my road test 1st try in a 1973 4 door Buick LeSabre and had my license

Funny. I took my road test in my dad's 1975 Pontiac Lemans. Was fun parallel parking that tub!

 

[Chinacat]

Funny. I took my road test in my dad's 1975 Pontiac Lemans. Was fun parallel parking that tub!

Exactly
I nailed it and I remember the DMV guy looking at me and laughing and said good job kid, you passed!

 

[jpd]

Funny. I took my road test in my dad's 1975 Pontiac Lemans. Was fun parallel parking that tub!

Failed twice in my '77 Monte Carlo, passed the next time in my mom's friend's '73 Cutlass.
I think I was too comfortable in the Monte.

My friend passed his first time in a '68 Riviera - I failed that day.

 

[WhatKnot]

If I remember correctly I had to use hand signals on the road test circa 1966

 

[OVERBORED]

I remember how happy I was to get my learners permit. Then my dad lowered the boom.
"You have to drive your sisters to dance"
"You have to drive your mom to the market"
"You have to get the oil checked and gas up"

Etc, etc.......I instantly became the family chauffer!

 

[Avenger]

Ahhh, coming of age.

We all got stories....

I'm going to mention that since we're old, life was a little different when we weren't old.

It's Long Island in the 21st Century, and this has become one of the worst places in the US to learn to drive because non-stop traffic and frankly, entitled New York @$$holes.

I recently took some friends to JFK at 5:00 am and on the way there was a delay because overturned car by the former toll both/troop barracks. Da fuq?

And coming back from the drop off, the Belt was necked down to one lane between a Hummer jammed into a bridge in the left lane and a BMW on its side in the ramp lane on the right. It's 6:00 am!

Da fuq?!

One of my first drives with my learner's permit I got some very rude gestures because I wasn't moving out of the left lane on Merrick Road fast enough when the speed limit went from 30 to 40. That was forty years ago. It's only gotten worse.

We got these magnetic 'Student Driver - Please Be Patient' decals for the car when A Jr was learning. We often got the same glares and gestures when he'd make a mistake too. I got in to it with one of them at a traffic light. "Oh. You're the ONE! I've heard about you! You were born knowing how to drive! It's so amazing to meet you!" I don't think it made a dent.

As part of the college tour when we were going to visit Stevens Institute in NJ, I was driving across Manhattan between the tunnels and pointed out how none of the rules apply in the city, and it helps if you think of the vehicle as expendable.

Mrs. Avenger was not happy at all, since we were in her car.



To be continued.....