I know many of you had to take Driver's Ed. to get your license, so did I. Mr. Procella was my teacher, he was pretty good. I remember having to ride around while each person got in their required time behind the wheel. One time, we went over the old Rainbow Bridge,and I remember thinking, "I am going to die", it was scary. I got carsick if I sat in the middle, and I finally got up enough nerve to tell Mr. Procella, all he said was"for goodness sake,sit by a window!". The only problem came when I took my driving test and had to parallel park, seems I didn't know how. I was crushed that I failed, so my dad took me over behind the old train depot where the practice poles were and made me practice until I got it right, that man had some patience! I don't think I could parallel park today if my life depended on it. 

I didn't take driver's ed but David White actually spent more time teaching me how to drive than anyone.  David had an old chevy, either '57 or '56, not sure.  I remember that the brakes didn't always work too well.  One day we were driving around trying to stay out of trouble and we were on a small side street coming to a stop sign.  David brakes and we aren't stopping.  He opens his door,  sticks his foot out and is dragging it.  About this time a kid on his bicycle is coming across in front of us. I am thinking this kid is going to die and we are going to jail.  David manages to slow the car down enough to where it just bumps the kid and knocks him over.  David jumps out of the car and yells at the kid for not watching where he is going.  I'm freaking out telling the kid we are sorry and making sure he is okay.  The kid looks David square in the eye and says "you were supposed to stop idiot!". The look on David's face was priceless.

Oh man the first time I dove over the Rainbow Bridge, I was scared wittless.  The lane became smaller and the cars coming at me appeared to be heading into my lane.

My biggest issue was passing 18-wheelers.  Except for the Jimmy Carter years, the normal speed on I-10 was at least 75 mph.  Dad and I had been to Beaumont for something.  I was doing 70-ish; I pulled up behind an 18-wheeler and dad said " Go ahead and pass him"

I began getting nervous as I came along side of the trailer.  When the bumper of the car got even with the space between the truck and trailer, I began sneezing !!!  Have you ever tried to keep your eyes open when you sneeze?  TRUST ME you can't!

So I get into a sneezing jag.  I am driving 80-ish.  And every few seconds I go blind as I sneeze.  I have a death grip on the steering wheel, the inside of the windshield is getting splattered, the center of the steering wheel and my hands are getting coated AND there is a long strand of snot hanging from my nose.  I punched it. 

I was doing 100 in no time.  I passed up the truck.  I let up on the gas, tried to wipe my nose with a shaky hand and I looked over to my dad.  "Except for the part where I thought we were going to be killed, that was pretty damn funny" he said.  Then he started laughing and making comments about having to clean the car and possibly my pants.

To this day, if I am passing an 18-wheeler and I am boxed in, I will give at least one sneeze.

I think I took driver's ed when I was a freshman.  I can't remember the name of the coach but the girl's complained he would take the boys out a lot longer time  than he would take the girls.  One of the girls ended up in McArthur's Circle...the part with all the bushes.  Can't remember who.  I guess that was part of the reason he was scared to drive with us. 

i took Driver's Ed in Orangefield for some reason.  Of course, the driver's ed car was automatic.  Our family car was a standard so I never got to drive it.  I was a nervous wreck and failed my driving test the first time.  I don't know how I ever got up the nerve to take that test again.  I finally learned to drive the standard quite good.  That white Ford I drove was a standard.  I remember one day, Sr. Cecilia asked me to take her somewhere during school hours.  She scared the daylights out of me anyway.  I was so nervous driving with her in the car.  But she was actually quite cordial and even complimented me stating that she was impressed I could drive a shift.  Quite a redemptive moment after that Freshman Candle Fest ordeal!!!