learn how to drive stick-shift

I had to do 70 miles on my own yesterday, and it solidified that I’m capable of doing this. Yeah, I killed it a few times, but I never got rear ended and it never got the best of me. Today, I was able to run a few errands and it was so freeing! I used to forgo the sunday afternoon run for hair gel because I didn’t feel comfortable driving the car, but I finally finally have taken care of this.

a) more on the truck
b) from the lake to the highway (30 some miles)
c) my first trip in the actual city, precipitated by two bottles of wine at a friends house (I had very little, so I was the elected party to drive home)

It’s getting a lot easier.

my dad’s truck is really hard to drive, so I like practicing on that as it makes our car much easier. I just get nervous driving in the city.

my fall class gets out pretty late at night…I would not be able to catch the train after class without first waiting 25 minutes, in the winter, and of course, in the dark. But if I was more comfortable with the car, Monday could be the one day I drive to work and have the car afterwards to get home in. So I need to actually feel comfortable, like, RIGHT NOW so that this is an option for me.

like I said I wanted to, but I was up north at my parents’ today and took a drive with their old four speed pick up. My dad advised me that it’s way harder to drive than our car, so if I can master that, I can master just about anything. We’re going up north again in a few weeks, so I should get some more practice in then on that, if not before on our own car.

So I didn’t quite get it in within one week, but I drove home from the train station tonight, and while it’s only a few miles, they are traffic filled stop light covered miles, so there’s lost of starting and stopping (which is the hard stuff). I am going to try and remember to kick my husband out of the driver seat for those few miles when he picks me up so I can get this off my list by the end of the summer.

When we were up north this weekend, I was able to get some good practice in as there was less traffic and I felt comfortable driving. I think I need to set a solid goal of driving our car at least once a week until I feel totally comfortable doing this.

I had to or else I was going to be walking home…my husband took the train downtown and left it in the park and ride for me when I took my train home. Scary! I made it, but I need more practice, that’s for darn sure. and I have more appreciation for people who don’t talk on their cell phones when they are driving.

for about 20 minutes yesterday..I finally feel like in an emergency, I could get where I need to go. I’m hoping to practice a few more times this week and have it down pretty soon.

The automatic has been sold; my husband is dropping it off RIGHT NOW. I will get home from work tonight (via public transit) and there will be one car in our possession, a stick shift. It’s either that or the huffy from now on.