March 10, 2008

I guess I need to be more like Joe over at joeprah.com and mount a video camera in Elvis! There definitely would’ve been a video on YouTube if I’d had one around today.

Feeling generous - and brave - I took Nick out for a driving lesson. He’s got his permit, and is due to take his driving test in July. So now he’s got to get some experience under his belt. (Last time Nick drove my truck, Elvis didn’t fare so well - blew a cylinder.)

We started out on the back roads down the street, but soon canned them because of the local traffic. Instead, I drove Nick over to a local shopping center that had a big, open parking lot. It took 10 minutes to get over there. And, after only a mere 5 minutes of driving, Nick was ready to call it a day.

Nick: All these little gear things make me really nervous.
Moi: Are you kidding me? There’s only Forward and Reverse.
Nick: Yeah, well - you forgot about Park!

Ok, then!

You’d think after that conversation I would’ve just driven on home. But I’m a glutton for punishment. And besides, what good would that do him?

So, after some mild persuasion, Nick put Elvis in drive, and took his foot off the brake.

And there we were…

In a big ol’ parking lot…

And the truck was moving oh - about 1 mph.

Moi: Uhh… You may wanna give it some gas, son.
Nick: Oh no. I’m doing good just like this!

While he had taken his foot off the brake, he never put it on the gas pedal. We were literally inching along. Old people could’ve walked by faster than we were moving.

Moi: Seriously bud - give it some gas!

With that, Nick barely stepped on the gas pedal.

I’m sitting beside him, trying not to laugh, but man - it was that comical. I felt like I was part of a comedy skit. I could just see Tim Conway and Harvey Korman Laurel and Hardy in these roles.

A couple of times, Nick reached for the gear shift instead of the brake, but I quickly derailed that.

Moi: The brakes Nick, use the brakes - not the gear shift. (Mind you, it’s an automatic.)

A moment or two later, Nick grew a little more confident. He steered the truck back behind the shopping center (maintaining a top speed of no more than 5mph). While cruising along back there, he was suddenly confronted with the end of the road.

Nick stopped the truck, glanced over at me, put Elvis in Park, smiled, and proceeded to get out and walk around to the passenger side.

Moi: What are you doing?
Nick: I’m done now.
Moi: What? Just put it in reverse.
Nick: Oh no no no! I’m DONE!
Moi: It’s not that hard - just …

By this time, Nick had the passenger door open and was shooing me out.

I got out and walked around the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. Just to prove my point - I put Elvis in reverse and stepped on the gas. Drove it all the way back to the other end of the lot in reverse, too.

Nick: Yeah, go ahead. You’ve been driving longer than I’ve been born.
Moi: Yes I have. But I learned to drive in my driveway - going up and back. Got really good at it, too.

We reached the other end again, and I climbed back out and tried to get him back in the driver’s seat.

Moi: Just drive around a little more. You were doing good.
Nick: I think I’m good now.

And with that, we ended the day’s lesson.

Next week, we may have to work on that gas pedal some more. What do you think? Actually, I think I’m signing him up this week for lessons.

P.S. On the way home, I remembered my little point and shoot camera has a video option. The next lesson will be filmed, and shared.

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