For a teenager getting your driving permit is a huge deal.
My youngest turned 15 last week and like every 15 year old in my state he, although slightly fearful was eager to get his driving permit.
Historically the DMV or the DLD (what ever you call the Drivers License Division) is the last place anyone wants to consciously go. Every time I’ve been there I’ve been greeted with long lines, unfriendly people and English was a second language but on this day things where different. There were just a few people and English was mostly spoken. Maybe it was because we went early or maybe the sparse patrons were because of Black Friday after all, we went the day after thanksgiving; either way I’m not complaining.
We filled out the application, Mr B took a photo that slightly rivaled a GQ cover shoot and off he went to take his test.
45 min later from across the room I see him get up to turn his test in and judging from the ear to ear grin I suspected he’d passed. I got a confirmation seconds later when he threw up the white persons version of a gang sign – the thumbs up.
As we left the DMV / DLD the big question finally came ” can I drive home dad?” Sure I said. I wasn’t afraid for my life because he’s driven around the hood and one late night while rescuing his older sister I let him drive home from across town so I knew he had ample skills to get us home.
Here’s the lesson
Kid gets in, adjust the seat, adjust the mirrors, clicks in his seat belt, looks left, then right, puts it in reverse, backs out, gets to the edge of the parking lot and stops. Looks left, looks right, checks the rear view and eases out into the westbound lane. I’m watching the hands like steel at 10 and 2 and I can see his eyes darting between the road in front, the traffic beyond, the left mirror, right mirror and rear view. He looked like Jake from avatar moving his eyes back and forth and this “focus” continued the whole way home.
Where’s the focus??
Daniel son got yelled at by Mr Miyagi , Luke was told to let go and use the force. My brother and I got yelled at by our father followed up with a “damn it son concentrate” and on this day I was reminded that I on occasion have just gone through the motions. It’s like being on automatic. I’ve done things for so long I don’t even have to think about them – like driving a car; it’s easy.
Today focus on your plan – if you don’t have one get one. Concentrate, see your plan in action and pretty soon it will be and when it does don’t lose your focus, check left, then right and behind you.
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