As It Turns Out...

S1 is a few weeks away from getting his driver's license. This has caused the typical parental concerns for DH and I as we attempt to teach him to drive. Suffice it to say driving does not come naturally to some.

We have been riding with him as he practices for several months. By now I am fairly prepared when I enter the front passenger seat of the car. The first thing after buckling my seat belt is to assume The Position.

When I was learning to drive, my mother assumed The Position which involved sticking both arms straight out against the dash and shutting her eyes as tightly as humanly possible. Then whenever she felt a subtle turn or stop, she'd let out a scream. Short but loud.

For S1, I have modified The Position somewhat. Basically I scoot to the far edge of my seat away from the side door and window. And there I am posed with one leg slightly raised and crossed over. I wince periodically as we graze trees, mailboxes, bikers, children, and cars lining the side of the road.

I often find myself panting and frantically waving my hand in a sideways flipping manner to indicate the direction S1 needs to move the car. Scrunching my forehead and squinting my eyes doesn't do anything to correct the car placement either. And jumping into the driver's seat for fear of my right arm being sliced off whatever obstacle is presently along the roadside has not been helpful.

So I've gone to silent chantings in order to hopefully help S1 with this struggle, "Feel the road, be one with the road, drive on the road. The gutter is not our friend." And it is gradually working.

The driving skill S1 and I are concentrating on this week is turns. Inevitably S1 will be halfway out in the intersection, still looking left for oncoming traffic before he finally determines that in fact it may be safe to proceed with a right hand turn. And since he is sitting in the middle of the road with no oncoming cars hitting him, it is an accurate assessment of the situation. Even though the conclusion is a long time in coming.

But since at this point S1 has not even begun to turn the wheel he ends up swinging out into oncoming traffic with the turn. Of course, all the while he is risking someone coming up alongside his right-hand side and making the same turn while in the very lane S1 should be himself.

I have remedied this with one simple phrase: "Turning is a process not an event." Gone is the screaming, lunging of my head in the direction I wish the car was going, and, of course, the ill-fated, grabbing of the steering wheel. It has all been supplanted with the simple message, "Turning is a process, son, not an event."

So while S1 enjoys turning 16 and turning the girls' heads, I silently remind myself it will not be over very soon. After all turning is a process, not an event.

It's All About Me

I spend a lot of time talking about, and even embarrassing, a lot of people on this blog. Well, in response to a tag from Eve, I am going to present you with some little known facts about myself. Even if you think you know me well, you may be surprised at the following list:

1. I spent my childhood summer days daydreaming about being a princess. I envisioned gorgeous gowns in every hue bursting from large gilded wardrobes. I would live in a castle with servants and visit with rulers from around the world. I was very certain, there had been some terrible mistake and I was not really designed to weed the strawberries, shuck corn, snap green beans and can tomato sauce all my life.

2. We did numerous garden chores on summer mornings, but always went to the community swimming pool in the afternoon. I was even on the town's swim team for several years. In all that time, I placed only once. I have the fourth place white ribbon to prove it. Of course, only four girls competed in the 100 Meter Breaststroke that day.

3. It was during Summer Driver's Ed when I was 15, that I almost ran Mr. Whithoff and a few other unlucky passengers off a gravel road. I had apparently garnered too much false confidence in my newly acquired driving ability and took a hair pin turn on a gravel road at a very unsafe speed. Now I know why they have the emergency brakes on the other side of the Driver's Ed car.

4. Shortly after moving from Iowa to Pennsylvania, I won the high school Voice of Democracy speech contest. In so doing, I presented my speech at the District Competition: "A few months ago, my family moved to a new home in a new state. Much like our forefathers who came to this great land, I faced a new life full of uncertainty and opportunity..." Yes, I had intentions of being the first female U.S. President. Now I'm afraid Hillary will beat me to it.

5. I took three years of the highly useful language Hebrew in college. I was going to be a diplomat to Israel someday, or something. I was not blessed with a gift for languages, hence my college transcript boasts 26 credits of 'C's'. Shalom.

6. I lived a very safe life until I met my husband. It was not until after I married DH that I got my first cavity, first speeding ticket and first broken bone.

7. I was a caller on Dr. Laura's Radio Show several years ago. I called in with an extended family concern. She yelled at me, used the 'B' word in reference to me, and told me to mind my own business. But I still listen to Dr. Laura almost every day.

8. One of my life goals was to be on the Jumbo Tron at a Utah Jazz game. I finally accomplished that goal about two years ago. Some photographer fed the mammoth-sized screen a very grainy picture of me sitting up in the nose bleed section, holding a poster that read, "Harpring Is The Court King." I was having a great hair day, but due to the greyed out fuzzy picture, it was to no avail.

Now, I am tagging anyone that wants to be tagged. Post eight little known facts about yourself in your own blog. And hurry, cause I can't wait to read 'em!