dear road-users...

4th december 2006. The first day i began my driving. On the road. By myself. Hehe...

To those who followed my entries in the previous blog would have a lil bit of idea on how i struggle to learn driving. To beat my fears. To overcome the haunting words in my head that keep saying.." u are just among the few who can't drive..!" I remembered even having this idea of putting a sticker at the back of my car ( if i ever drive !) that reads.." i'm a bad driver, please be careful around me..". Until one day, i was assigned to work at a place where i can't car-pool with anyone, and the idea of getting a bus was just out of question..then i knew that i had to do it, i have to drive.


The unstoppable thumping of the heart, the cold sweats forming on my forehead, the dryness of mouth due to extreme nervousness behind the wheels, ..the uncertainty of whether to change lane now or wait another 2 seconds, the loud-long honking from cars, casting a glare as they drive pass me while muttering to themselves...," who is this slow 'turtle' thinking that she can drive..? "..or.." what is this 'makcik' doing?..so-slowww!!.." or.." where exactly is this lost girl heading..?". Heh..phewww...

Not to mention the parking experiences. The 30-mins attempt to park the car in a not-so-senget position. The constant praying in me " dear God, please let me get this one right..", as i stare unblinkingly to the side mirrors, squeezing the car in a super-slow movement..trying to reverse-park between cars. The early days when i would wake up early in the morning to secure a good parking space ( where i'll be the first one to park the Kenari, and there'll be no worries of hitting any innocent car accidentally ). Or the times when i would go to Jusco, and park in distant areas, comforting myself by saying.." well.. i need the exercise anyway.." whereas the truth was, i'd rather walk 2km than try to park in a crowded parking lot. Another phewww....

And now, though still considered as not-a-really-good-experienced driver, i can say with some confidence that i can drive, able to start the engine, press the pedals, and manouver the car..in a quite acceptably well manner. I still get the honkings, still have the look of confusion and uncertainty sometimes, ..still take quite a while to park compared to other people...but well, im trying, and am improving . That's wht matters.

And i would like to thank the strangers..who albeit their impatience and hurry, considerately wait behind me when i tried to park in shopping complexes. ( though they were some jerks too....oh well,). The guys who helpfully give direction on how to turn the steering wheel when my car was stuck in weird position. The people who assist me willingly at the petrol station, when i was standing there clueless of how-to-do this-thing. The people who understand my difficulty in changing lanes...guiding the way by slowing down and letting me in safely. The drivers who would honk me when i drove too far to the right, which might cause dangers to other ppl, and myself. Thank you for helping me learn better on the road..=]

And amazingly, i discovered that i quite like driving. In fact, i enjoy driving. It gives me a sense of freedom that i dont feel elsewhere. The feeling of being on my own, controlling the steering and driving at a steady speed. And now, since im travelling from Kl - Seremban daily ( for the time being..), having to drive through the highways everyday..i realised that i was having a good time driving, though yeah..a bit tiring and not very cost-effective, but ..at least, i know that i dont suffer on road, and enjoying my ride. Well...pray for me ppl, and let us all be a better driver, a good, courteous road-users..~ =]