Maybe I DO Need The Practice...

If you'll recall, Mrs. TBF suggested earlier this year that I book a Mobility car every couple of weeks so that my driving skills wouldn't become "rusty". After a quick self-examination, I determined that I was indeed NOT retarded and I just let the suggestion drop to the wayside along with past suggestions involving walks which would culminate in picnic lunches and other things that I won't mention so that I don't fall victim to a middle-of-the-night-rolling-pin-to-the head.

Not needing the practice driving, but needing to run some errands last Wednesday, I booked a car. Sure, it snowed all day, but everything went without a hitch and all errands were completed successfully. Today, I had another car booked, and when I walked to the parking spot to pick up the car, it was, again, snowing like a banshee!

Hmmm... Now that I think about it, maybe I should book a car for Christmas Eve so that we're ensured a white Christmas.

So I jumped into the little, red, Honda Jazz just after 11 a.m. and took off to run my errands. First, I stopped at the pet supply store and bought King a load of cat food. On the way, I noticed that the car sounded a bit funny and that the ride seemed a bit rough, but I figured it probably had something to do with the snow on the road so I just let it go. After buying King's food, I walked next door to Wyss Nursery and bought a Christmas tree. It took a bit of engineering, but after putting down the back seats I managed to cram the tree into the car.

On the way back home, I began to notice a funny smell - like metal burning.

Why are the wheels locking when I come to a stop?

What's that smell?

What's that weird, bright red symbol on the instrument panel?

What's this strange lever next to me that's sticking up in the air?

What the...? Doh!!!

It turns out that I had been driving with the parking brake on the entire time! When I thought about it, I remembered that when I got into the car, the keys were in the ignition, and the transmission was still in drive. I thought it was strange, but obviously the person who had the car before me was used to driving a stick instead of an automatic, and she (had to have been a woman!) had engaged the parking brake before turning off the engine.

Me, having only driven automatics in the flat, Midwestern U.S., would never even THINK to check if a car's parking brake is engaged. I mean, I think I've probably used a parking brake maybe twenty times in the past 30 years of driving. FU**ING parking brake! Sheesh!

I'm happy to report that the car performed perfectly for the duration of my remaining errands...

...once the parking brake had been disengaged!

The Pot Calling The Kettle Black...

Before this morning it had been 53 days since I had last driven a car.

I had to bring King to the vet this morning for a follow-up blood test to make sure that he's getting the right amount of thyroid medication. The last time I drove was the previous time I brought him to the vet - November 23rd.

After the last vet visit, Mrs. TBF told me that she thought I should book the Mobility car every other week, or so, so that my driving doesn't "...get rusty."

Yes, I believe...no, I'm CERTAIN those were her exact words.

"Wait. You mean, like, to practice driving?" was my startled response. I pretty much just agreed with her, glazed over, and then...proceeded to completely dismiss her advice as something one would say to a retarded person.

I'm happy to report that the fifteen kilometers of driving I did this morning went completely without incident. No accidents and no King pooping in his crate fiascoes like last time. Not even anything remotely resembling a close call.

I got to thinking yesterday about the not-getting-rusty comment, and the more I thought about it...the more annoyed I became. No, I didn't make a big deal about it, but I did manage to very casually drop in a "...when was the last time YOU drove a car?" during dinner last night, and it turns out that Mrs. TBF hasn't driven a car since she drove a rental car during a business trip back in November; something like 103 days ago!!! And no, I made no "rusty" comments of my own - although I'm sure I could have come up with a real zinger.

But hey, no worries, Mrs. TBF. I'm minutes away from booking a rental car for when we're in Chicago in a couple of weeks so that I can get in some driving practice. Wouldn't want to get rusty, now would I?

Sheesh...

The nerve of some people!