The Eventful Journey

Everyone has memories of their first car. Some good…Some bad…All memorable. If you’re keeping up with the mundane soap opera known as my life, you know that I obtained my driver’s license this past summer after almost a year of practicing. Well, I’ve had my license in my wallet for a little more than two months now (the only joy I’ve gotten from this little piece of plastic thus far is pulling it out and seeing the impressed look on people’s faces when they ask if I have identification –- a non-driver’s I.D., what’s that?!), and I decided that it was time to get out of practice mode and take my skills out on the open road.

I had been researching car rental places for about a week or two –- Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Thrifty, Budget –- all the big name rental companies. I was excited that a long weekend was coming up and really wanted to be able to experience the art of driving. In my research, I discovered that all the major car rental companies have the same belief -- make the life of a first time driver MISERABLE!!! First, I would either have to go to the airport (I wasn’t quite ready to navigate the Belt Parkway or the North Conduit just yet) or go uptown in the city (the thought of having to drive in Manhattan traffic scared me) to rent a car. I was also told time and time again that as a new driver these car rental companies would be hard pressed to rent to me. If the State of New York trusts me behind the wheel, why can’t these people?! (Maybe because the state wasn’t gonna hand me a car!)

It was Thursday night and I was becoming a bit discouraged. These rental companies are so expensive and I felt like I would have to sell my soul just to get a couple of days in a car. Finally my former driving instructor Turner told me about a car rental place in Brooklyn that was inexpensive and willing to rent. Enter Car Go Rentals…a cheap car rental company on Utica Avenue. Eureka!! The rest of the week flew by and I couldn’t contain my excitement...and finally, Saturday. It was like waking up on Christmas…I was so excited knowing that I would be driving. I called Deo to come with me. Car Go Rentals –- it looked like all other car rental/dealership scattered through out the area. Nothing about it stood out. The only indicator that we were in the right place was an old rusting sign with fading letters.

We walked through the gates and into a tiny office at the end of the lot and were greeted by a young black woman at the desk who looked completely disinterested in her surroundings. I guess sitting at a desk flipping through “Black Hair” and “Essence” magazines were finally hitting its peak for her. She gave us a weak smile and asked how she could help. I told her of my interest in renting a car. She then called in an authoritative little Asian man who took over the transaction. After filling out all the necessary paperwork (“Car Go Rentals is NOT responsible for the injury and/or death of the persons in the car, just the car itself and if in fact there is damage to the car the family of the deceased will be liable!!” *snickering* Ok, there really was no such clause in their contract, but I guess selling a little of one’s soul is necessary for these kinds of things.), there came the part that I anticipated and enjoyed: actually picking out a car. I picked car number 12: a blue 2002 Nissan Sentra. This was the car that I would be driving for the weekend. I immediately thought that it would make an ideal first car. I watched as the car was inspected for any previous damage and it was at that point that Deo suggested I video tape the inspection (for my own piece of mind and in case anything happened with the car). After the inspection, I was given the keys and the green light to drive it off the lot. This was it! My first opportunity to drive a car without the benefit of an instructor or a teaching brake!! Woohoo!! Deo and I got in and I automatically applied all the previous year’s lessons learned. We clicked our seat belts. There was seat and mirror adjustment. And finally I started the ignition. I waved off the driving candidate that I used to be and drove off the lot and into the sun…I was officially a driver!! It was liberating being out there amongst all the craziness of New York and not having to experience it only on the subway or in the back or passenger seat. I was able to look out the window in front of me and the rear view mirror and see it all!!

I’d always been a passenger and being able to drive and get myself from place to place felt so empowering. Deo asked me to drive him to his downtown Brooklyn apartment so that he could check on something that he had been waiting for in the mail. From the car rental place we took side streets to get to Deo’s house. I guess that I became so caught up in the conversation that he and I were having that I made a right turn on what I thought was a two way street and came upon a car coming in my direction and having the driver scream that I had gone “THE WRONG WAY!!” (What?! Don't act like y'all haven't ever made that mistake before!! Ok, ok. That's just me! I know I've gotta be more careful!) It was a Laurel and Hardy moment in that although the moment was a bit intense…no one was hurt. After hitting a few patches of gridlock along Atlantic Avenue, we finally made it to Deo’s place where he made a quick pit stop to his mailbox…and the restroom.

With my new found freedom, Deo and I sat in the car and contemplated our next move. Where should we go? What should we do? Maybe dinner or a movie? I have to say that all my experiences with driving had always taken place on the streets of Brooklyn. But it’s always been a dream of mine to go across the Bridge that I love so much and head into the city while in the driver’s seat of a cool driving machine. But for now, I’ll settle for driving across in a beat up used car. Although it was something that I had always been a bit fearful of (what if I crash into another car on the bridge or worse yet -- what if I crash into a median and go over and into the water?! Omigod!! I can't swim! These are extreme thoughts I know, but that’s how this mind of mine works at times!), it was yet another apprehension to be done away with! Fear be damned! So we drove down past Tillary Street and came upon the bridge. We looked at each other and took a deep breath. At the urging of the green light at the base of the bridge, we made our way onto it. We did it! We were driving across the Brooklyn Bridge! Once we got across we had to navigate through New York City traffic. I can see now why New Yorkers who drive in Manhattan are so angry: “Hey lady, get the hell outta the street!!” “The light’s green and you’re applying make-up!!!” “GRRRRRRR!!”

This picture is sooo much better than my driver's license photo -- is a big cheesy smile that says "Look Ma -- I FINALLY DID IT!!" a good look?


We went downtown to Bleecker Street and ended up in a bar. Now I know what you may be thinking; “You’re driving now, you’re not really thinking of drinking are you?” And the answer to that is no!! But I love the environment in this bar, which is right down the street from Deo’s job at Ugo, an entertainment website where he works at a web developer/web master. The people were friendly (and it didn’t take all sorts of alcohol to get them that way) and the bathrooms were clean (well clean enough for a bar!) We had a few drinks (Jack Daniels straight up and ginger ales), chatted up the patrons and the bartender and then headed for dinner –- Mexican at Burritoville! A cheap and good time was had by all. After dinner we decided to head home. It was the best feeling in the world for me, an empowering rock star moment. I could get anywhere I wanted, all with the turn of the ignition!

The next night after coming back from some distant place (it was only distant when a car wasn’t involved!) I called my mother. I wanted to tell her that I had achieved the impossible –- I was a driver! But she didn’t answer, so I left a message on her machine telling her that I would be willing to drive her home from the station and that I was awaiting her call. Around midnight she called to tell me that she had hopped on the bus and that she was on her way home. I have to admit that in hearing that, I was a bit sad. I wanted her to share in the experience with me but I told her that it was okay and that I would call her tomorrow. Fifteen minutes later she told me that she would be getting off the bus and asked me where I should meet her. I was happy and excited. I knew that my mom got off the bus because she knew that I wanted her to see me in action. I put my sneakers and coat on and headed out. There she was, the little lady in the red coat waiting for me to pull up and take her home. “My daughter the driver – what I have lived to see!!” She said that she was proud of me. That made me happy. We talked and caught up with each other while I headed down Remsen Avenue to my mom’s house in Canarsie. After pulling into her drive-way and letting her out, I told her that I would park the car so that we could visit with each other for a bit. I then told her that I had a lot of laundry to do and that I dreaded the idea of going to the laundromat. She offered to do my laundry if I brought my clothes over the next day. Great! This saved me from the headache of a crowded laundromat. I was there for about an hour before I decided to drive home. I can see that one of the annoyances of owning a car is finding a parking spot. I’ve heard often from my brother that it can be a pain in the neck. But after driving around the block for about a half an hour, I discovered a little treasure –- a parking spot right in front of my apartment…nice!

"Look out world -- here I come!!!"

I drove over to my mom's the next day and spent the day with her and my dirty laundry. It was nice to hang out and talk with my mom. She works such crazy hours as a home health aide that actually being at home was a wonderful thing for her. Fast forward to Monday night. I parked the car on the next block over and thought how great it was having the opportunity to drive. The car would go back to the rental company tomorrow. But the eventful journey that was my first driving experience is something that I will always think fondly of. I can see myself becoming more and more comfortable behind the wheel telling the world to get the hell outta my way!!