Fun with Student Driving

So the 15 year old has a newly minted Driver's Permit and is in a big hurry to use it.

She hasn't even started her Behind-The-Wheel classes yet, but we've been out driving several times already. First it was the empty school parking lot, then the parking lot plus a trip around the block, then a half hour on the subdivision streets.

Things heard from behind the wheel:

"Mom! I can't multi-task! I can steer, or I can press the gas pedal, but not both! You pick!"

"Help!! A car is coming! What do I do what do I do?!?"

"Mom! Don't distract me by talking! This is LIFE THREATENING!"

"I hate it when there are other cars on the road!!"

Things heard from the passenger side:

"Slow down slowdown SLOW! DOWN!"

"Good, good, you're doing fine!"

"Stop! STOP!!!"

"Hug the right, HUG THE RIGHT!"

"OK, good, good, that was good, you're doing fine, really, that's good... OK, slow down... SLOW DOWN ... OK, good, now make the turn... OK, good, good, now give it some gas ... come on let's get it up to 15 mph... good, good....you're doing fine, really!"

Wow. All I can say is that the Drivers Ed teachers at the high school are AWESOME, and brave.

Of course, they have a second brake pedal, too.

And sweetie, if when you read this, please know that I mean it, you're doing really well! If I didn't think so, would I be entrusting my life to you in that car to take you practice driving?

Well, would I?

No, of course not.

I'd make your Dad do it.

Link-o-rama

Some good stuff on other blogs today:

My friend Nancy Carpentier Brown has an amazing animal story. A cat, a burning house... well, just go read it.

A blogging friend who I've never actually met, Rich Glasgow, has an interesting post about recalls of products Made in China. My mother has boycotted everything made in China for years; she certainly is vindicated in that by recent events. Anyway, go read Rich's post; you'll probably want to join her in that boycott.

Finally, Althouse (who needs no other name, just "Althouse"), links to a NYT article about how fewer kids are getting their driver's licenses at age 16.

Heck, the NYT could have just asked my hairdresser; she told me last year that kids weren't as eager to get their licenses anymore.

That fits with our experience here: Our 17 yo took Driver's Ed two years ago and still doesn't have her license. But, as she says, why should she, as she wouldn't have a car to drive to work anyway? True; I would still need the van for carpooling while she's at work.

However, her younger sister, age 15-1/2, is now taking Driver's Ed and seems more interested in getting that license as soon as possible. In addtion, the 17 yo knows that she needs to get that license before starting college.

So we may go from 2 drivers in the family to 4 in no time at all.

About George MacDonald, Lady Aberlin, and Mr. Rogers

This morning, Nancy Brown had a nice review on the American Chestertonian Society blog of the book The Diary of an Old Soul and the White Page Poems, by Betty K. Aberlin.

Well, somehow (don't remember where) I'd recently learned that this Betty K. Aberlin was actually Lady Aberlin of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood fame! So I posted a comment mentioning that fact, and then some googling found that Lady Aberlin had posted a comment on a different blog... and all that got me thinking about Mr. Rogers.

We loved Mr. Rogers in this household when the kids were really little. Many happy half-hours were spent watching his gentle and interesting shows. We loved the tours of factories (I'm a sucker for that kind of field trip). My dad used to watch the show just to enjoy the jazz.

Anyway, the years went by. About three years ago, our oldest gave me this book as a gift: The World According to Mr Rogers: Important Things to Remember. Of course, I got a little teary-eyed. (And wow, according to Amazon there's only one copy available now, selling for over $70! But I'm not selling mine. No. Way.)

Finally, here's a lovely little bit of video; it's a message from Mr. Rogers to all of us grownups.

And Lady Aberlin, if you ever happen to find your way here to the backwaters of the blogosphere, I would be greatly honored if you'd leave a comment....

A birthday celebration for Dave

On January 31, we celebrated the birthday of a very special friend, Dave. I made a cake (funfetti with butter cream frosting), we sang happy birthday, and there were some homemade presents for him. We had a very festive evening.

It was especially nice - even a little bittersweet - because Dave doesn't come to visit too much anymore. In fact, I have a feeling that the day is coming soon when we'll never see or hear from him again.

We've known Dave for several years now, and have learned a few things about him.

• His brother's name is Joe Fitzship.


• His sister's name is Elena.


• His mother is Chinese.


• He is Jewish.

Oh, and one last thing about Dave:

• He's our youngest daughter's imaginary friend.