How Far I've Come

I sat quietly in the passenger seat this week while my 16-year-old (in 2 weeks) cruised along at 72 mph (which is my allowable 7 mph over the speed limit) on the FREEWAY. It was actually a pleasant ride and I enjoyed watching the sheep and lambs out my window, even though it was raining pretty hard and there were several menacing semi-trucks to work around. And I just had to congratulate myself on how far I have come in this little adventure of driver's training.

Having been through this now four times you would think that it's no big deal. But driver's training for the mom is never that. It all starts with much anticipation and bracing oneself for the added stress load of the upcoming year. You know that you will have to fit into your week several trips that you dread making. You start with the fairly safe parking lots and slowly learn curves and higher speeds and eventually Hwy. twenty! You know you (I mean he) have conquered that 4-lane menace when you can actually make a left turn onto it.

But the freeway! That you can't even bear to think about, especially at night. You just have to put it out of your mind as if it will never really happen. And then one day, about 11 1/2 months later, suddenly there you are (I mean there he is) cruising and passing like there's really nothin to it. And you can finally take a deep breath. You did it! And by the way, so did he!

Your ride is over, but your praying isn't.