We had a crazy day at the DMV. When is the DMV not crazy??
Got her permit, waited in the parking lot of the Junior College in our city for her first session of behind the wheel training.
We waited
and waited
and
waited
and waited
(o.k. we only waited 3 minutes, but it seemed longer, and the driver wasn't there yet)
We waited
and waited
and
waited
and waited
(o.k. we only waited 3 minutes, but it seemed longer, and the driver wasn't there yet)
Realized we were supposed to be waiting in the parking lot at a High School in the next town over.
Ooops, my bad!
Called the Community College Course Administrative office, and prayed they would answer...
Yes! They answered
"Ummmm, I am waiting for our instructor. Are we in the wrong parking lot?"
Few minutes on hold
"Yes, hello, you are not just in the wrong lot, you are at the wrong school"
SHIT WE ARE LATE!!
HAULING ASS FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT!
HAULING ASS FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT!
ALL THE WHILE EXPLAINING-
"Don't ever drive like me!!!!!! We are just late, and I have to drive fast.....and run yellow lights.....and not make complete stops.....and ........ Just do what I say, not what I do!"
B's first 2 hour course runs smooth. The driving instructor gives me a few pointers on how to teach her while I am driving with her, we nod, and take off. I let her drive home,and she reminds me about the bonfire I am to drop her off at.
I think to myself:
ENOUGH with the F*ing Bonfires already!!! My teen girls are killing me with their summertime bonfires!
Drop her off at 6!
Pick her up at 9:30
(secretly get there at 9:15, park ever so stealthlike, spy on her and boyfriend to make sure there is no lifeguard tower makeout sessions going on)
*Oh, for my regular readers, Yes, B has a new boyfriend. He is actually quite nice. But even the nice ones want to do 'not nice' things with my daughter, so I will still take on the roll of being a blocker. And what am I blocking you ask?
It rhymes with block! That is what I am blocking! Enough said!
Get caught trying to spy on her, but she gets caught when I ask
"Where is the fire, and where is the dad that was supposed to be there?"
*Oh, for my regular readers, Yes, B has a new boyfriend. He is actually quite nice. But even the nice ones want to do 'not nice' things with my daughter, so I will still take on the roll of being a blocker. And what am I blocking you ask?
It rhymes with block! That is what I am blocking! Enough said!
Get caught trying to spy on her, but she gets caught when I ask
"Where is the fire, and where is the dad that was supposed to be there?"
The silent treatment goes on for about two minutes, until I say
"Hey, I forgot you had your permit! You drive home!"
"Me? O.K."
smiles
"Do you want to take the coast the whole way, then cut through the neighborhoods? Or do you want to take the coast part way, then try your hand at the O Boulevard. Practice with a bit of traffic, and street lights?"
"I'll take O Boulevard. Might as well"
"O.K. good!"
"Turn left here, stay in the right lane, when you come up over the hill, past the 7-eleven you will.............OH MY GOD! How funny......."
"WHAT??WHAT? WHAT'S FUNNY?? What are all of these cones??What is going on? What are all those lights? WHAT DO I DO?? WHAT DO I DO?? DO I STOP???"
"Oh My God B, welcome to your first DUI checkpoint! And this is a major one! O.K. slowly merge ov..... OVER......O.K. Well that wasn't really a merge, you didn't even look over your shoulder."
"I'm nervous!"
"Why? Are you drunk?"
"NO!! GOD!!!"
"I know honey, I'm kidding.Now just watch the cop ahead, he is going to wave each person through, but he may stop you. I have your permit right here. You would roll down the window, but I can lean over and talk if you want. OOOHHH, let me get my phone out. If he does talk with you, I'm gonna ask to take a picture."
"I'm freaking out. He's waving his light, what does that mean? Do I go? Do I stop?"
"I know honey, I'm kidding.Now just watch the cop ahead, he is going to wave each person through, but he may stop you. I have your permit right here. You would roll down the window, but I can lean over and talk if you want. OOOHHH, let me get my phone out. If he does talk with you, I'm gonna ask to take a picture."
"I'm freaking out. He's waving his light, what does that mean? Do I go? Do I stop?"
Needless to say she was not told to pull to the side. Our sobriety was not tested. I did not get a picture for her scrapbook. Does the scrapbook supply store even sell 'My First DUI Checkpoint' stickers, emblems, and supplies?
I am surprised we were not asked to pull aside. You have a 15 1/2 year old who merged in the most illegal manner, about 10 feet from the checkpoint, and then again 10 feet after the checkpoint.All the while clutching the wheel, looking like a cracked out deer in headlights. You have a mom searching for her cell phone, all the while giggling like a hyena, and a 13 year old in the back seat rolling the window down to stick her head out and stare at all the drunks that were pulled over.
"Darn, I really wanted to take a picture. I sooo wished he would have asked you to pull over"
"Mom, you are a freak!"
Fun times ahead for this mom, and her eager to drive daughter.
Fun times ahead.......................
* I started this post last Saturday morning. Since then we had a little scare with a panicked permit driver, 'accidentally' stepping on the gas instead of the brake. I may turn that moment into it's own post, or I may squash it. As of now she is a bit shaken, a bit embarrassed, and a bit worried that we are going to tell everyone about what happened.
No Honey!
I would never tell anybody that you gassed it, flew over the curb, and only pressed on the brake 2 inches before hitting the retaining wall next to the palm tree. I will not dedicate a post to that spine tingling, chilling moment where our lives flashed before our eyes, and I started to doubt letting you have your license.
No, that is private family stuff.
You just keep practicing B. Six months of driving with your permit, and you are going to be a seasoned pro.
WHO AM I KIDDING?
Dear DMV,
Hi. My name is J.R. In six months I will be bringing my sweet, eager, anxious 16 year old daughter in to your office, where she will nervously be testing for her drivers license. I would like to ask you to please fail her. Fail her, and keep failing her! My life flashed before my eyes today, and I am starting to think that carpools, driving to and from bonfires, movie theaters, parties, shopping malls, and concerts is not so bad. I don't need her to drive herself. She can wait.
Don't be too harsh on her, but make it realistic, and never, ever tell her that I bribed you or paid you off. This is between you and me Mr. DMV driving tester guy! Our little secret!
Sincerely,
J.R.
Moms Against Teenagers Being Allowed to Drive
M.A.T.B.A.D.
o.k. the last three initials spell out B A D! BAD!! Is that a sign?
Another hilarious post J.R. (It rhymes with block, haha)
ReplyDeleteMy lil sis had a bit of a mishap in her car last week and it got pretty scary for a moment. So glad that B is okay. :)
I think my life is full of hilarious moments right now. Anymore hilarious moments though, and I may go insane.
DeleteHer car mishap has left me a bit rattled.Not that anyone was hurt, just made me realize how maybe teen drivers just aren't ready......?? Uggghhh! Hope your little sis is o.k., and thank you.
First, I'm so glad the two of you are okay, and it really was just a mishap, really.. Second, I'd like to tell you that it gets easier with a teenager driver in the house but that would be a lie. Might as well put your worry wart on and call it good. Until they're home safe, until they call you and tell you that they've reached their destination, you're going to worry. My oldest will be 29 next month. I still worry. But, the good news is, they'll be more independent and able to drive themselves to and fro, right?? You'll worry but they'll be fine.. ; )
ReplyDeleteThank you Mimi- Being a parent never ends. You are right on that! Deep breaths............ lol ;)
Delete