The Year Was 1958

In Nov.of 1958 I turned 16! Back in those days you had to be 16 before you got your learner's permit so on my birthday I got my permit.My mother took on the job of teaching me to drive. She was an excellent driver herself so I was in good hands. The car I learned to drive on was a 1955 Pontiac. It was a big old car compared to today's standards; a 3 speed stick shift on the column. So,knowing what that meant,I had to learn how and when to push in the clutch and shift gears smoothly. Mom was a good teacher with lots of patience but one time she nearly lost it! We were coming home from somewhere and I was getting ready to turn the corner when Mom said to use the brake. But mistakenly I stepped on the gas and we flew around that turn! She was a little upset to say the least. She taught me to parallel park out on the street where we lived. I studied the instruction manual and the day arrived for me to take my driver's test. This was no easy task like it is today! We drove into Baltimore City to the DMV where the tests were given. I passed my written exam and eye test with no problems. Then a State trooper got in the passenger side of my car and told me to drive to the corner and make a right turn. We had no blinker's in the cars back then so I had to open my window ahead of time and stick out my arm to make a right hand signal while also coming to a stop! We went around a city block with traffic and when we reached the point where we had started he got out and told me to park the car! Oh! boy! Now the real test of my driving skill was about to be tested. There were 2 posts out on the street that I was to maneuver my car between without knocking them over. If you did it was an automatic failure. The first time I backed up I tapped the pole lightly and it rocked a bit but it didn't fall down. Oh, I was so nervous but I immediately pulled forward and tried again and the second time I parked it perfectly. He passed me with a smile! On the way home I felt so happy and begged my mother to let me take the car to school for the rest of the day. Believe it or not, she did. I cannot describe how wonderful it felt to drive for the first time by myself. There was a wonderful sense of freedom that I experienced that day as I proudly drove into the school parking lot. Of course, all my friends wanted me to drive them home after school and I did drive some of them. The trust that my parents placed in me in allowing me drive the family car was awesome. As I look back over the years (50 now)I believe I've honored the trust that was given me by having an excellent, safe driving record. I've had only 1 ticket and that was dismissed by a judge plus I was in a head on collision that was not my fault. A truck driver crossed over a double yellow line and hit me head on. I had to go the hospital in an ambulance as a result and sustained a fractured sternum, a head bump and some stomach bruises. All in all I still consider myself a good driver. We were a one car family and yet my parents allowed me to take the car to school from time to time. This entailed my Mom taking my Dad to work and then getting back in time for me to take the car to school. All my friends got the benefit of me driving them home on those days. In fact, I don't remember any of them driving to school in their family's car. I guess I was blessed in so many ways back then and didn't even realize it!