Drivers Test

I passed the drivers test today!

I can barely believe it, but me and my sister both got our very own, very new Florida drivers' licenses! See how happy I am in this picture! I'm so excited I could scream (if I could convey it in text form)! Here goes...Aaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiihhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I don't feel any different after typing that, but I hope I have satisfactorily conveyed a sense of major accomplishment. Gosh, let me tell you about what happened...

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This morning I woke up very early, about 6:00 a.m., and I didn't go back asleep again because, to be honest, I was excited as heck! I went online to review many driving tips for the test that was to come, such as accelerate, steer, and change lanes smoothly, exaggerate the checking of mirrors, and use the blinkers and signals appropriately. I was pretty nervous, but I tried to keep my anxiety at a low level by reading a chapter of "Jane Eyre" (I'm on the part where she meets Edward Rochester for the first time), making porridge, and yeah, pacing a little (not that that did much good).

I felt nervous enough for myself and my sister, for both of our tests were on the same day, and Bettina seemed not to be anxious at all. I mean we've been driving for a whole year, no accidents, no speeding tickets, no nothing, so why shouldn't we pass the drivers test? Still, I thought to myself, "A little nervous energy is good before taking any test, right? Makes you more alert." Then I realized that there was plenty of time before we had to go to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and take our tests, so we relaxed and watched the beginning of "Shiloh", the movie. Adam borrowed the book from the library, but he wanted to see the movie first.

Anyway, at about 11:30, all us kids hopped in the Yellow Beetle. We dropped Adam off at his friends Lexi and Ben's house for the afternoon, and then Shira, Bettina and I drove on to the DMV. When we got there, we were about half an hour early, so we thought we'd have a while to wait, so I brought my book along so I wouldn't get bored. But actually, we didn't have that long to wait at all! Since we came early, the people checked us in and we showed our permits and we were told to wait outside for our driving instructors.

Boy! That was fast! I took the test first. The course was right near the parking lot, and it was very small! All I had to do was make a few turns, stop at all the stop signs, make a three-point turn (sometimes called a K- or Y-turn), back up 50 feet, and then park the car. And that was that! I passed, piece of cake! Shira was so proud of me.

As I waited for Bettina to finish her test, me and Shira sat and talked to this family which had two sisters who I think were getting their permits, I think, and an 11-year-old boy who said he knew how to drive in the parking lot. It was so great to relax and feel at ease, because my piece of plastic was assured me. It only took about 15 to 20 minutes for the test to be over, and we just had to verify all our pertinent information before we got our upgrade from permit to legal license. How happy am I! On the way home, we pondered what we should do to celebrate. We stopped at the supermarket and decided to get some carrot muffins for starters. Then we got back home and told our dad all about it. Shortly afterward, brother Adam came back home and gave me and Bettina each a great big hug for passing the driving test. I am so proud of myself. Why was I ever worried that I would fail?