Driving lessons

June 22, 2010
I've never driven our Audi before... and we've had it since last fall. It's a stick shift. I know, it's pathetic that at 29 I've never learned to a stick shift. When we bought our Audi I told Jeff that as soon as I stopped puking (and could stand the smell of a newly detailed vehicle), I'd learn how to drive it. Then when the puking stopped, I told Jeff once I could actually see my feet and had "Ricco" I'd learn. Then when I had Cole, I told him that once I'm not totally exhausted and can actually remember my own name I'd learn. That last excuse didn't fly so tonight Jeff took me out on my first driving lesson. I promised not to cry and he promised not to yell, too much anyway. And I told him I wanted to start off in a parking lot where the potential for killing someone or wrecking the car was low. Little did I know a girl would jump out in front of me in the parking lot and panic me right from the beginning! I couldn't decide if I was more scared of getting yelled at, dropping the transmission, giving Cole permanent damage from whiplash, killing someone, or that I'd actually enjoy this whole experience. I admit I panicked a couple of times when I realized I could go forward but had no clue what to do when I had to stop or go in reverse. Jeff even had to rescue me because I couldn't figure out how to back up on a slight hill with traffic coming my way. A guy stopped to see if we needed help then laughed hysterically when Jeff told him he was trying to teach me how to drive. We laughed a lot too, mostly so I wouldn't cry and Jeff wouldn't yell (minus those few times he yelled "CLUTCH! CLUTCH!" at me as I yelled back "How do I stop?"). After about an hour of practice we did make it home alive but I've still got a long way to go... Jeff says my next lesson will focus on going in reverse!