The (first) Finish Line!!! (part 3)

The other 2 guys who had failed their first times, passed on their second times.  I was the last person to test the 1st time and retest the 2nd time.  I didn't want to be a three-peat!!!  Now, I should mention, everyone in the class besides me had owned and driven a manual vehicle at some point in their life.  I, the cheese, was standing alone.  So, for what that's worth, I did an amazing job learning to shift in the short time I had (5 weeks).

When I got to school that morning (last Tuesday), I was looking for a useful distraction lol.  I found it in tutoring the new class of CDL students on the finer points of the pre-trip (which I, of course, loved doing!!!).  I felt like a proud teacher, imparting wisdom with every gesture I made.  Then...it was time for me to turn back into a pumpkin (another student), and do my retest haha.

I retested with a different examiner, which was fine with me.  I made it out of the yard without running over any grass or curbs (automatic fail), and got to the stop sign in good position to make my right turn without running over THAT grass, either.  As I drove along, I was definitely nervous, but I kept a continual dialogue with the Lord, and tried to remember that the test itself wasn't really going to last all that long.  I just needed to show the examiner that I could maintain control over the vehicle and follow the laws.  Aside from that, I didn't need to drive perfectly.  I could accrue up to 30 points and still pass, provided that none of my errors were egregious or auto-fails.

Well, I got to that same blasted hill!  I had been having trouble shifting since the time I'd gotten out of the yard (I don't know why), but I was determined.  I shifted that sucker like that meant business!  Heading up the hill I had previously gotten stuck on, I again missed my shift, but this time I knew what to do, and I corrected it back to a gear that would work.  I tried again for the shift, revving it higher this time because I was headed up a hill, and I got it!  From then on out, I was able to shift with confidence, and did an excellent job!

The only other noteworthy event that I'll share here was a(n almost) run-in with a mallard duck.  I was out driving on one of our local roads during my exam, and there, in the middle of my lane, was a duck.  Just ducking along, calm as you please.  Normally, I would have slowed down or swerved to avoid said waterfowl, but NOT TODAY.  I couldn't risk stalling my truck just so Daffy could sit where he didn't belong and have a nice little snooze. So, here's how the conversation went:

Bill: Oh look, there's a duck.

Me: Yup.  **stares intently ahead, gripping the steering wheel**

Bill: I think it's a male.

Me: Yup.  Nice green head to attract a female.  Looks like a Mallard.  ** continues to stare intently ahead, aiming right for the duck**

Bill: You know you can go around him, right?

Me: What?  Oh, I'm allowed to cross the double-yellow line?

Bill: Yup.  I'm not going to have you murder a duck to pass your test.

Me: Hey.  It's a double-yellow line.  Donald was about to be pate!!!  I'm not failing AGAIN because of some dumb duck!

So, the poor duck came within an inch of his life, and didn't even know it.  Saved by the Bill, I suppose.

I made it through all the turns, stops, shifts, merges, and the like.  When I got back to the yard and parked, Bill gave me a fist-bump and told me congratulations, I had passed.  I hit the roof.  Literally.  I mean, I was banging on it with my fists in excitement, whooping and yipping like I'd lost my mind.  I think that was the most animated Bill had ever seen me, cuz he just sat there, chuckling and shaking his head.  I was so overjoyed.  I got out and gave my instructor and the new class a thumbs-up indicating I had passed, and they all cheered for me.

I feel like a lot more happened, but I figure I've shared enough for the time being LOL.  Thank God I made it through!  I'm also extremely grateful for my instructors (and their patience), my classmates who believed in me, and all of you for your continued love and support!  Not sure when I'll be able to post next (which is a shame because I've had at least 3 other major things happen in the last week and a half, but I have to go to sleep at some point within the near future, so it's just going to have to wait LOL.  Love to you all <3 .

~ Amanda d:p