Here it is...The Driving Issue.

Look at this picture: The girl is nervous, the man is bossy...this doesn't look like fun to me.

I've mentioned a few times on here that I do not drive. Not because I'm lazy, lost my license, or have no car. I have never had a license. Yes, I'm almost 25 and have never had my license.

Let me explain.

My great grandmother didn't have her license until much later in life, my Mom didn't get hers until she was 24 and pregnant with me. I worked with a girl who didn't have hers until she was 21. I have cousins who didn't get it until they were 20. To me, this is normal.

When I turned 16 I couldn't wait to have my permit. The day I turned 16 I was at the DMV, taking the test, getting my picture taken..and leaving with my head held high. It took me a while, but I eventually signed up for Drivers Ed, passed the course....and then had to do the driving lessons. Before I did the required lessons I tried driving the blue-demon (Ford Escort Hatchback...) with my Dad. He pulled the e-brake when I was approximately a billion yards from pedestrians.

So, then it was time to do driving lessons. First one? Highway. Second one? JACKASS trying to teach me. And actually yelling at me because we disagreed on the name of a road. Stupid crap. After that I schedule a few lessons and stressed and got so nervous about them that I eventually just canceled them and forgot about driving.

You're probably thinking "how do you FORGET about driving?" Living near Boston I could take trains and subways to travel. How did I get to work? Mom. High school? Not a problem, I was a lame senior who took the bus but had neighbors that would sometimes drive me home. College? Friends from the same town would bring me home if they were coming out. OR I'd take the train. Seriously...not a big deal. I'd never ask for a ride or ask people to go out of their way to get me somewhere. It's my issue, no one elses and I'd never ask people do help me because of something I have an issue with.

I've saved an unbelieabable amount of money because I don't drive. I've traveled every place I've wanted to. I moved out of  my parents house to a town where walking and bike riding (not that I did that either!) was the norm. I would walk to do my grocery shopping, take public busses and yes...even travel two hours to Jacksonville to see Danny. When you don't drive...you get creative.

I've heard it all "You're not a real adult because you don't drive." "You need to grow up." "You rely on people too much." "Once you drive, you'll love it." Believe me, if you're thinking it right now...I've heard it already.

This is a really touchy subject with me. I don't like talking about it with people, I get defensive and angry. I don't understand why other people care what I do or do not do (especially if we don't even know each other!) Not driving has never stopped me from doing something that I wanted to do.

Bottom line: Driving scares the shit out of me. It's a control issue. I don't like having the control of a vehicle. I'm a very nervous person about everything. I would make a horrible driver. However, I am a great navigator! Ask anyone!

So, will I ever get my license? Yes. Am I happy about that? Hell no. But because of this military lifestyle that I have chosen to live, and knowing that Danny will someday deploy..I will need my license. And honestly, that's the only reason I plan to get it.