Driving - Attempt #24

Yes, that's right. I'm "learning" to drive the stick shift again. Before when I was trying to learn I was just too nervous and really didn't feel I needed to learn. I was fine on my own two feet. But, the moment Alexis was born I started telling Scott that I'm ready to drive. He's said, "Why now after 2 years?" I told him someone depends on me now. If I needed to go to the hospital, doctor or grocery store immediately I needed to be able to get in the car and go. A bus, taxi or my feet would take too long. Each month for 8 months now I've asked Scott if he wants to go driving today and he always avoided that question like I avoided 2 years ago. Being honest, I think he was scared for his new car and his new precious cargo, Alexis. But, this weekend he asked me if I wanted to go driving. I said "sure" with such confidence that he was kind taken by surprise. Here's a re-cap of what transpired next:

Lacy: "you ready?"
Scott: "what, now?" (I sensed through his tone he had regrets of asking.)

Lacy: "hey, look I have the car key on my key ring. Scott, I'll go warm up the car. How do I do that?"
Scott: (really worried tone) "ummm. unlock it, then put the car in neutral and hold the brake and put on the parking brake, then put the key in and press start."
Lacy: ok (I took off with such confidence...then I pressed what I thought was the unlock button and POP went the trunk..laugh. I followed Scott's instructions and back went rolling the car. I quickly pressed the brake and put the parking brake on. Close call!)

Scott: (after buckling Alexis' car seat in) "Umm, are you going to drive us out of the city?"
Lacy: "Yeah, hop in!"
Scott: " Are you sure you don't want a refresher course? You know you've never driven this car...it has a bigger engine and a different clutch."
Lacy: " I don't need a refresher, let's just go."
Scott: " Hold on. Put the clutch in and practice shifting through the gears first."
Lacy: "1st....2nd....3rd....4th....5th....hey this car has 6 gears."
Scott: "Now for reverse" (He put my hand on the gear shift and guided it to reverse)

Five minutes have past

Lacy: "ok, forget reverse....I just won't back up." (Apparently, BMW has a tricky reverse and I never really found it after trying by myself for sometime. Scott made me quit b/c he thought I was going to break it)
Scott: "sigh"

Scott: "Now rev the engine to 1500 rpms and slowly let out the clutch."
Lacy: "What, this thing that says 1.5?"
Scott" "deep sigh"

We make our way 1/2 way out of the city and I pulled over because there were too many pedestrians and too many bike riders out. My goal was to drive us to the gas station but hey, safety first right?

Scott safely pumped the gas (I pumped gas for the first time in three years a few weekends ago when we were going to see Shannon and Josh and that's a another blog...I'm on pumping restriction after that comical event.) and then he drove us to the back roads of Belgium where I take the wheel again.

Lacy: " Why do you always put me on these two lane roads but really only one car can fit."
Scott: "practice"
Lacy: " Look at this rude guy behind me. He's really on my tail."
Scott: " don't pay attention to him."
Lacy: "SCOTT, he just waved his hand in the air and mouthed something to me."
Scott: " Just watch the road..I'll take care of it."

Scott then imitates the guy and waved his hand at him. I have never seen Scott be that aggressive toward anything. It was really funny.

I'll stop there but we had a really successful driving lesson. I even put Alexis to sleep. Scott says I'm a slow, smooth driver. But, I need to get faster...and keep the smoothness.

His goal is for me to drive him to the airport in April but I'm thinking his work is a good goal.