I find it amusing that a great deal of blogs and social networking sites users have their way of celebrating the new year. That includes greetings, online surveys, significant events, wishes for the year, and new year's resolutions. And though I'm notorious for being a nonconformist, New Year's traditions are something I couldn't do without: from firecrackers to overeating, I do it all. So I guess my blog is not an exception; and before I say my first story for 2009, I'd like to great everyone first a very happy new year.
So let's begin...
Every time January 1 comes in, my father's clan meets up to stage a reunion. It has been a tradition since time immemorial because of understandable familial reasons. So since the mother's side held the first-ever Christmas Paskuhan/reunion at our home, you could imagine the fats and the flab getting through my system (not to mention the sodas I'm virtually forbidden to drink). Double events, double food, double the flab - there could not be any replacement.
Going home, I felt pretty weird because of my overeating spree. Usually, that's sleepiness in motion. So since I was afraid of getting pancreatic trouble (you know, the reason why matinee idol Rico Yan died...), I just closed my eyes to feign rest. But then, I "woke" up.
Trudging through the city streets, there was this gray Toyota Civic (I think...) taking up the farthest right of the lane. Thinking that the Civic would not speed up, my dad drove on with his usual speed. I was surprised, however, when the Civic's driver practically 'matched' my dad's speed, trying to overtake. I looked at the driver and broke a sweet smile. Seeing that I know what the little girl in the driver's seat was up to, I told my dad to just let her go ahead.
And I remember smiling the whole trip.
The reason why I was smiling is not because the girl driving the Honda Civic was someone to die for. I was smiling because she and I, though far from being acquaintances, shared something in common. Something that was so crucial and terribly liberating to us teens. Something so special and exciting to experience. Something that was so attainable given a few months of continuous driving - and that is, the thrill of holding the [steering] wheel.
Long-time drivers would find me funny for saying this, but I believe that driving by yourself is really an exciting and scary thing. Exciting, because it's the ultimate proof of your personal mobility. Scary, though, because you will have to deal with evils of the road, from possible car snitches, to the thugs of the highway, and last but not the least, the MMDA.
I haven't drove our 13-year old, service-center maintained, 40,000 km mileage Mitsubishi Lancer EX by myself yet. Although I have brought it to school during the summer, I still have to experience bringing it all by myself. Having the driver during your first, second, and third time across the city assures that you can make it past the ruthless road. You will get the hang of it, yes. But getting on without the driver is another thing.
"Ms. Honda Civic Girl" must have been my age, perhaps 18-21. She was driving all by herself, and she was practicing extreme caution by the way she sat and strut. Her seating was so straight the orthopedic surgeon would get scared. She was dependent on the signal lights in turning left to right. She must be pressing the gas pedal in spurts because her car was going in spurts as well. She overtook us really fast; and proof that she's a beginning driver like me... the car wheels abruptly change from left to right.
Just to be clear on things, I am not rendering judgment on Ms. Honda Civic Girl because I know how hard it is to drive the car on you very own. You can get by the city in due time, but the first times are really scary - especially when you encounter motorists who prove their being 'king of the road'. You risk accidents and damage to property when you bring your car elsewhere. Defensive driving IS the norm; the only thing is, are the fellow motorists defensive drivers as well?
Frankly, my mother doesn't want to let me hold the wheel because she hates the way I sit before the wheel. She says it's the "jeepney driver sit" - nearly slouching, one hand on the wheel, simply 'too much comfortable' for someone driving. She also roars at my sudden gas spurts and braking, because it pushes her forward during the trip. Those observations qualify me as a 'reckless driver', says she. But even as she says that, I smile confidently because I know that once in my life I have driven our car in the smoothest possible way - that is, because I was seated comfortably, with my arms and feet in the right distance from the controls. I was able to drive smoothly, without the loud 'vroom!'-ing of the car because of it.
Hah! (Kid really...
)I have told my mom that by summer I SHOULD be driving the family car already because I'm afraid of commuting to school with a laptop in hand. Either I will lose the laptop or get held-up by a highwayman because my bag's a good loot. It's somehow whimsical for a guy like me, but I'd like to be safe than sorry. Besides, I can't imagine teaching a bunch of kids High School Physics using chalk and lecture notebook alone. At least for the time being.
So that is the story of Ms. Honda Civic Girl, and how, in a sense, see myself in her when she overtook us on our way home.
Until then, drive safely!
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