Solo drive

May 02, 2008
Remember the blog last weekend where I made the decision that the Foose was my car, at last?
Well, I did my first solo drive. My goal for this week had been to drive the car by myself, and yesterday, I did it! It was very cool that I did it on Beltane, which is sort of the Wiccan version of Valentine’s Day, but not. It’s more about fertility than romance, but the two aren’t mutual exclusive, as all those babies prove. Beltane is a major holiday for us, and a time for celebrating the return of the sun, the warmth, and life. It’s been a long winter, and now we celebrate.
Well, Jon and I celebrated more traditionally later that night. (It was a kid free evening.) But during the day, I celebrated by driving my car all by myself. I’d earned a little leisure time, because I’d already done eight pages on the short piece, and finished it! Yea! I’d then turned around and done fifteen pages on the new Anita book. Yes, the one after BLOOD NOIR. Then it was off to the allergist for shots, oh, joy. I drove to the allergist, had a little excitement in the parking lot. Why is parking so challenging in this car? But even with killing the engine a couple of times, I still had made my decision. I was done with work for the day, and I was going to solo.
I dropped Jon off at the house, and off I went. His parting advice to me, “What’s rule number one?”
I answered, “Don’t panic.”
“What’s rule number two?” he asked.
My reply, “See rule number one.”

Good rules for any new endeavor. I drove off to do errands. The Foose is a car that encourages you to find excuses to drive. I’m a little rough going from first to second gear, but I’m smooth the rest of the way up. I muttered under my breath, “Easy off the clutch. Don’t stab at it. Give it gas, but not too much.” Once I got up to speed, I was able to drive like a sane person and not talk to myself, but any stop light, or sign, was met with a litany of out loud advice to myself. It helps me concentrate.

I no longer break into a cold sweat when I see a light turning red. I fear no stop sign. Though a downward slope does still give me pause, if it’s behind me. But I’m working on it. The other goal was that next writing group, I drive the Foose. Well, it’s tonight, and guess what? The Baby and I are driving.