Good-bye Michigan Lefts, Hello British Round Abouts

My drivers ed. experience at 15 was considerably easier than navigating the streets of Chester by way of automobile. If we moved here 10 years ago before navigation systems and google maps, a fountain of tears would wash away our driving experience. My right side of thinking switched to left. I concentrate intensely while driving. The first rule is:  no talking in the car, except me and it’s usually swear words. I’ve been diligent all these years to not curse in front of my girls. It’s amazing all the new words they are learning in less than a week. I am throwing out all types of truck driving slurs. Let’s hope these nuances of language is not carried over into their repertoire. I’d rather have them pick up delight, proper British words. Rule number 2:  no radio while I’m driving. I love listening to a variety of music while I drive. It relaxes me. I await my return to enjoying car rides while blazing my techno, rap, pop, r & b and Dolly Parton.

Steve navigated the roads first. We had a deluxe rental car with special features. Navigation system with voice control. Back-up camera. Side-view detection. Front detection. I delight in our navigation system’s British accent. On top of all these safety features, likely required for any American driver, we also used google maps.

Now if Steve wrote this blog, it would read quite different. While we were in the car together experiencing equivalent actions, but still with two different views and realms. We tell the stories two different ways. A truism in life; he said, she said. The short is, Steve likes (or maybe requires for helpful purposes) that I also tell and give him directions. State side and abroad. I’m directionally impaired, even with google maps.

We simply could not have duplicated any better Clark W. Griswold’s experience on the turn around in London. “Hey kids, there’s Big Ben-the Parliment.” Drive. Turn around. Lost. Frustrated. Repeat. This! This was us, but on a much smaller scale in Chester. It is an arduous city to drive and navigate. We have heard from locals that if you can drive in Chester you can drive anywhere. London? Locals–“No we would never drive in London.”

Rewind to Steve driving and me reiterating what google maps is saying. Steve has three chicks communicating directions and we are lost in say the woods, but really a compact city. We drove in circles and circles around Chester for over two hours looking for the local grocery store, Tesco. Steve was aggravated when he missed a turn and would say, you have to let me know when to turn, and on and on. Now here is our skewed views, Steve played the blame game on me for our lost ways. I thought, blame the broad on navigation. I have nothing to do with this equation. We started bickering back and forth, which in general is never productive and certainly did not benefit our driving task.

As we drove around persevering and me becoming emotional. Breaking down slowly, but strongly. We pointed out all the landmarks we passed a few dozen, a few hundred times. By the end of this experience we just went back to our apartment food-less. I was tense, in tears, knowing this was leading to a surmountable calloused adventure that I hadn’t dreamed. At that point, the only thing we had In our favour is we could understand English (and not even all the time).

My quick blurb about my driving experience. Steve sat shut gun as I took the wheel for the first time on the right side of the car and turned on the main street, driving down the left side of the road. I asked Steve if he could let me know when to turn. He said, you have to pay attention to the navigation systems. What?!? You made me give you directions. Round abouts were difficult at best. Driving down a narrow-narrow two way street was difficult at best. I literally held my breath as I passed a car, often hitting a curb, thankfully no cars or pedestrians. When traffic was busier, I nearly passed out from holding my breath so often. And a release with, Thank you, Jesus.

Every day we have improved and improved. It has built my confidence, reaffirming I can do more than I think. All things are possible. It’s empowering to tackle an obstacle, small or big. And when conquered, they all feel big. I want to wear a badge of honour. Look, look!  Do you see what I can do?!

As Steve and I connect on a whole new level in our relationship that I have treasured for over 25 years, we laughed until my gut hurt and tears flowed down my cheeks, with nothing but a humorous replay of this experience. And every time we drive now, “oh yup, saw that before.” I need to stop using, yup.

We have faced many challenges and again, they may seem small. We get frustrated, but it’s refreshing and saves my sanity to laugh and laugh with Steve. It brings new life to this experience with him, with our girls–there is not a person in the world that I’d rather combat this with. Steve. My girls. They are, they are my everything.

And not to brag, or perhaps I do receive bragging rights, but we just bought my car and it’s a stick shift (manual). Imagine driving on the left side, turn arounds while adding a shift gear to the multi-tasking equation. Steve is determined to learn, it might be competitive. I’m teaching him next weekend in a parking lot. Hey, he needs to learn how to drive like a girl. Empowerment!

Driving ourselves crazy at times and my driving force is my love for my family!