Mister Toads Wild Ride, Revisited…

Posted under Daughters, Ex's

A few years ago, I wrote about my experiences of teaching my youngest daughter how to drive.  I tried searching for it in my blog, but over the years, I’ve somehow lost that original story.  Too bad, it probably was a good one. 

What made me think to look up an old post on this blog is that just recently I’ve had to revisit driving training again.  No, I didn’t have another child.  If I had, there would be a doctor who I saw several years ago that I would be punching in the mouth.  The training involves my youngest daughter, again.  She didn’t forget how to drive, she does pretty well for the limited two years that she has had her California license. 

It’s that in the infinite wisdom that is my ex-wife and her husband, they bought her a gorgeous late 60’s VW square back station wagon.  The car has been a project of theirs for the last couple of years.  They have spent many weekends rebuilding the car almost from scratch.  The finished car is really a very pretty car to look at.  It will be a great car for a teenager to drive back and forth to school and work.  A cool car for Southern California.

The drawback.  It’s a four speed manual transmission.  Have you ever tried to teach a child how to drive a stick shift?  It’s like trying to herd cats or push spaghetti uphill.  It can be done, but with much difficulty. 

Now, my personal car is a BMW 5 series with a 5 speed manual transmission.  A stick shift (not the pedal shifters) but one that is easily driven.  This VW is a pain in the ass to drive.  The clutch has to be pushed down hard, the stick has to be moved hard to change gears, and the car drives like a slug.  Add to all this a teenager who knows nothing about why there is three pedals and not just two on the floorboard. 

So I begin the teaching process of how to feather the clutch and accelerator while still working the brake and getting the car into gear.  I am revisiting what it took to have patience with a teenage driver again.  I realize that you truly never get to escape these responsibilities.  However, there are days that I think I’m just getting too old for these “E Ticket” rides anymore.

 

 

 

An All-Star Game in My Backyard, Almost…

Posted under How I See It

For anyone who knows me, this time of year is the best.  Hot weather, a chance to wear shorts (which I do most of the time anyways, I just don’t look funny doing it in the summer), enjoying a frosty beverage, enjoying a cigar and watching baseball.  Other than the playoffs and when my team (the West Coast Halos) is playing, the All-Star game is the best. 

The All-Star game is a chance to watch the best of the best play (usually) and a time when baseball is not too serious. A time when the players and the fans seem to be having fun.  It is after all a sport meant for entertainment and we all need to remember that.

This year is fun because the game is almost in my backyard.  Anaheim Stadium is a 20 minute drive from my house.  I won’t get the chance to sit in the seats and enjoy the game live, but knowing that it is all happening just down the freeway is exciting. 

 Of course this year the All-Star game will have a bit of sorrow mixed in.  The former owner of the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner past away last evening.  A man who defined baseball in the modern era.  I was never a fan of George’s but I will admit that he made the Yankees and baseball as a whole a much better sport for all of us.  A baseball boss who was never afraid to get his hands dirty and who made sure that only the best product was on the field. 

So, sit down, grab a cold one and enjoy the summer classic that is the All-Star Game.