We are driven (crazy)

When you learn to drive in Florida, there are some skills you never have a chance to develop, like driving very slowly down a steep, narrow, twisty country road that's quickly getting covered by snow.

I survived driving home from church on Sunday, but I didn't enjoy it. I'll never enjoy driving in snow the way my husband does. He sees bad weather as a challenge, a test, an exhilarating opportunity. I just know I'm about to die.

This is true: early in our marriage we were out in our car, a puke-green 1970 Dodge Dart, with my husband at the wheel in a light snow, and as he was driving through an empty parking lot, he decided to show me how fun it can be to make the car do doughnuts. Well, he thought it was fun. I got hysterical, got out of the car, and insisted I was walking home and never ever ever getting in a car with him again.

Of course I did, and over the years I've developed immense confidence in my husband's ability to drive in horrible conditions--but he doesn't do doughnuts when I'm in the car. He knows better. Over time I've had plenty of opportunities to drive in snow and ice and fog and slush and I feel relatively competent in those conditions, but fun is not the word I'd use.

This morning the temperature dropped way below zero and I was really glad I didn't have to drive in that old Dart. The thing was built like a tank and could drive through a brick wall--if you could get it started. On a morning like this, that Dart would have been useless.

My current car, on the other hand, had no problem starting this morning--and in fact it had no trouble handling the awful conditions on Sunday either. I have never felt more confidence in a car's ability to handle difficult conditions. I love my car! I believe in my car! I have confidence in my car! But I don't have confidence in myself or my emotions. I looked down that snow-covered slope on Sunday and knew I was about to die--so the fact that I'm sitting here typing this feels like a gift.

That Dart took us places, but I'm glad I didn't have to drive it this morning.