He Can Drive Now.

Having newly returned to real 'work', a hard day really wears me out.  I left my client today and drove home tonight bone weary, tired, worn out.  The whole way home, I looked forward to a good meal, and a nice glass of wine.  I had some very nice ribeye steaks, and some asparagus.

I had no more than walked through the door at home when I became aware that all was not to be as I had so eagerly anticipated.  Landi had choir practice and Catfish had work.  She's a soprano, and he's a life guard.  She can drive herself to choir practice, and I have to....wait....HOT DAMN!  He's 17!!!  He can drive!!!

I cooked the steaks, and asparagi, and we all enjoyed a wonderful meal.  Landi smiled, waved and drove off.  Catfish smiled, waved and drove off.

I watched him drive down the icy road, and I smiled, remembering when I first got my driver's license.   My birthday is Oct. 9th, and on Oct. 9th 1973 Jonesboro High School had it's bon fire for Homecoming.  Boo, Tick, Bat and I were running late to the bon fire.  On my 16th birthday, I got a speeding ticket for going 45 in a 20.

I took a deep breath.  I could still see his brake lights at the end of the road.  I remembered that in November of 1973, I borrowed my father's Ford LTD, and together with Boo, Winston, and Mitzi, got it so buried up in mud out in Quail Hollow that it took 3 wreckers to get it out.

My heart started racing as I saw his brake lights as he turned onto Maple Ave.  It was in late November of 1973 while duck hunting, that I learned that while a Volkswagen Bug will float, a 1969 Datsun 510 will not.

I was hyperventalating now.  He was out of sight.  I remembered December....of 1973.  It really seemed like a good idea to drive out to Black Oak to steal the population sigh, but it wasn't.  A $25 dollar fine later ( I got to keep the sign) I was driving back to Jonesboro.

He was gone now....out of sight.In the spring, I met a girl.  I break a cold sweat.  For some insane reason, my 16 year old brain thought it would be a great idea to buy this girl a giant (5 foot tall) stuffed bunny rabbit for Easter.  I thought it would be funny to drive around town with the bunny in the drivers seat, and me in the passenger seat, pressing the gas peddle with tmy left foot, and steering with my left hand.  The police officer did not see the humor.

All manner of memories flooded back.  Getting Mom's stationwagon stuck off Woodsprings Road....taking Dad's Lincoln fishing....the prom....driving around drinking beer and shooting snakes....My head was spinning and I felt faint.  Oh..damn.

Years ago, when Dad was visiting and Catfish was just a 18 month old baby, I spent some time telling dad some of the absurd things that Catfish had done.  After relating to Dad how Catfish had recently walked a window ledge around an entire room, Dad smiled.  He smiled as only he could smile.  His eyes twinkled.  He gave me that 'look'.

"Son", he said, "Has he burned the house down yet?"

"No, sir.  He hasn't."  I replied.

"Well". he said with his blue eyes smiling, "I'm one up on you."

I am so very, very scared right now.