MaeLyn's Musings

The day was long awaited. First, because she needed to be 16 1/2, because Colorado Law stipulates that to receive a drivers license before that age, she needed to have 4 hours of professional behind the wheel training, and that was too expensive. Secondly, she was busy with the musical and other plays, and when she finally got around to scheduling an appointment with the DMV, the next available time we could do was not for two months. So finally, on May 5th, Hannah came home after seminary instead of going straight to school. After I returned from walking Peter to school, Hannah and I climbed into the car and set out for the DMV. The nice thing about having an appointment is that we got to talk to someone right away, rather than having to take a number and wait to be called. We presented our documents, and the lady at the counter verified the 50 hours of driving, the 10 hours of driving at night, the signatures, the car registration and the auto insurance card. Then Hannah was told t...

I am researching drivers ed programs. Is that crazy? In Colorado, a teenager has to have her driver's permit for 12 months before she can get her license. That means that if Hannah wants to get her driver's license when she turns sixteen, she has to get her permit when she turns fifteen, and has to take a driver's ed course within 6 months of taking the written test - so kids can enroll in driver's ed as early as 14 1/2 years old! My mind is boggled. I remember taking driver's ed when I was a teen. It was offered at my high school. I think the semester long class was divided into two sections - half health class and half driver's ed. We'd learn about the rules of the road - how far before turning a corner we were supposed to turn on our turn signal, or how many feet behind the next car we were supposed to leave to give us space to stop. Of course, since I had no real concept of how far 200 feet are, or 50 yards, or whatever, they were just random numbers t...

The sun is shining and the kids are back in school today. But they were late. Our school has a "gentle start" policy. Kids are supposed to arrive between 7:35 and 7:45am. If they are not at school be 7:45 they are late. Usually we try to leave home at 7:30 so we have plenty of time for things forgotten at the last minute and to pick up the little girl up the street. Today was no different. We went out to the garage at 7:30; the girl was waiting a few buildings up the street; we were on time. Unfortunately, as I was backing down the driveway, another car turned onto our street and I had to stop halfway down the driveway for them to pass. Unfortunately that meant I lost all my momentum and I was stuck. For the next twenty minutes the girl's great grandmother and I pushed, pulled, dug and salted, trying to get the car out of the driveway, over icy ruts, and onto the street. Eventually another car paused to give some helpful advice (I imagine they were Colorado natives and no...