Traffic Update

My driving lessons with Pa have been progressing. Today was my fourth time driving with my dad since I got my learners permit. He dared to suggest I actually try to drive on actual roads in the Bronx. What is he, CRAZY? As soon as putting my foot on the gas, I would have instantaneously crapped my pants. No, no. I decided to keep to the conveniently constructed driving course at the Whitestone Cinemas. Allow me to explain just how massive the parking lot to this place is; it used to be a drive-in theater with THREE SCREENS. There are no less than five stop signs and four speed bumps. What kind of extreme parking are they expecting to go on here? Not that I mind. This works really well to set up many different driving situations. There is some random company there, though. In addition to the few matinee movie-goers we encounter at 10 in the morning, yesterday there were two fire trucks testing their hoses and ladders. Today there was some random dude sitting on the side of the road eating pancakes.
What makes the experience a bit more enjoyable and makes me feel like less of a looser for not knowing how to drive is that there are ALWAYS other people learning how to drive there. It’s kind of a rite of passage for anyone who grew up here; when you learn to drive, you go to the Whitestone.
I was particularly proud of myself for being able to parallel park today. We used giant plastic garbage bins as stand-ins for cars. Granted, my dad was shouting instructions at me from outside the car, but I did it! I’m thinking next week I’ll be ready for real, honest to God, New York City roads.