Some blogger friends ask why I don’t post in my blog as often. The articles come in trickles now, compared with the time when I would flood the cyberspace with words. Now, it takes quite an effort to write not because my days are fuller—though I could say that about some days—but because my built-in censor has become too controlling.
Me: I should post my experience when I . . . .
My Censor: No, too personal. Do you really want to risk appearing shallow, or foolish or, horror of horrors, needy?
Me: But forgetful me needs to remember this time, which I think is significant enough to be the subject of a post.
My Censor: What, and let you risk regretting about writing it in the first place a week after posting?
Me: (making a face) You know what, you’re such a spoilsport. Take a leave, my inner censor, and let me write for writing’s sake.
Before you refer me to a shrink after eavesdropping on this conversation, let me assure you that I am still perfectly sane. If not, I would’ve let my inner censor get the better of me and cork the bottle of my creative juices and store it in the cellar of my mind forever.
After that has been taken cared of, let me tell you about me taking on another challenge—on the road. For the longest time, my family has been egging me to drive. Everyone in my family drives. My twin brother learned to drive even before he was legally allowed to be on the road. Though we’ve all logged hours and days as commuters, I’m the only one who felt so much confidence in our public transportation. In fact, I think commuting is oftentimes the most convenient and most cost-effective way to go anywhere. So you can’t blame me for not wanting to have my own car, or at least learning to drive.
In addition, there is another nonsensical reason why I’m fighting off this challenge to drive. As a single woman, adding “driving” to my list of skills won’t probably win me points with the guys. Crazy idea maybe but don’t shoot me for thinking that way when I occasionally hear from well-meaning friends that some men are probably intimidated by me. And I don’t drive yet! How can I be a damsel in distress when my knight in shining armor can see that I can mount my own horse, or in this case, steer the wheel and zoom away? Oh-kay, you can stop laughing now.
Lately though, I’ve been trying to overrule this irrational fear by enrolling in a driving course. So far, two hours of lecture on basic driving and an hour on the road have sliced off a chunk of my fear. Alfonso, my instructor, insinuated that I wanted to prove to myself that I can drive already by driving fast. No, I just didn’t want to apply the half-brake so soon when the hump is still several—okay, a few—meters ahead. But he should give me a break (pun intended) and credit for remembering to put on my seat belt. 
Ask me after six more hours behind the wheel and eight hours’ worth of lecture if I still want to drive. As for my anticipated knight, if and when he comes, I’ll let him take the wheel, metaphorical or otherwise, as I sit by his side and enjoy the view.
Filed under: Blogging, Daily Life, Fun
Try creating an anonymous blog. There’s something liberating about being totally unknown in the blogosphere. It shields you from the feeling that people you know might be judging you based on what you write.
As for the driving, I always found women ho could drive sexy. it probably has something to do with the confidence that they have. The only problem that I had with it was that I didn’t know how to drive.
Hi Swipe, I set up another blog when I was still with blogger.com but it died a natural death when I forgot all about it. But yeah, I should set up another anonymous blog again. Thanks for making me remember it.
Do many guys think like you, not minding that girls drive? Sana ‘no?! Yeah, I guess it takes a lot of confidence to get behind the wheel, and that is what I’m trying to gain nowadays. As for you, you drive already and based on what I read in your blog, I think you’re one “daredevil” (can’t think of another term here) on the road.
How can you not learn how to drive, Beng?
How are you going to surprise your future knight with impromptu lunch time visits in his workplace? How are you going to bring your future kids to school?
Even if not, driving will mean more good times (and having a chance to serve ^_^ ) friends and family. Either way, it can always lead to love – in whatever form! – down the road. ^_^
I’m grinning from ear to ear reading your comment, Karen.
You really are one sweet girl! I didn’t think of that! 
Now, I have more reasons to stay on the road. Your line is cute: “Either way, it can always lead to love – in whatever form! – down the road. ^_^”
Seriously now, yes, I agree with you on having the chance to serve family and friends. In times of emergency, at least I could drive somebody to the hospital when I have to.
PS: Mag-blog ka na din. Promise, I’ll visit.
I agree that writing a blog in a form of diary is much like having your privacy intruded and maybe your grammar even scrutinised
! Kaya I go for just commenting (he-he!)…parang saling-pusa!
As to driving—I think knowing how to drive gives one more options to get to places. Driving one’s own car is quite expensive nowadays although here in the province, my husband and I schedule our trips. I learned how to drive here because of my husband’s eye condition (cataracts) but then he just had it operated on so he’s back to driving. So after a year’s stress of having a back-seat driver, I’m back doing the back-seat driving (ha-ha!). May K na kasi!
At first that was my fear too, my grammar on public display. Tipong, “I better not make a mistake here or else!” But it proved to be an unfounded concern kasi even the official websites have typos etc. too.
So your husband just taught you to drive or did you go to a driving school to learn? Haha, okay ah, you take turns being each other’s backseat driver. Well, if it works for you, so be it.
Something I remembered, guys can learn to live with women drivers but we can’t live with backseat drivers.
That I am starting to understand. Parang tipong ang sarap sabihin, “Excuse me, I’m on the wheel; I have a license. I know what I’m doing. Whichever way I turn this wheel, we’ll get to where we need to go.”
just to answer your question, Beng. I did not go through a driving school and I was already driving when I was in my early twenties. The volkswagen holds dear and fond memories as well as dents for me
. When I told my husband I could drive, he gave me some chance but then I somehow got his valuable “carabao” Suzuki into a deep ditch. I came out of it unscathed though. That made him of course to become my German driving instructor. It was tough. I had to learn how to swerve in between cows and huge acacia trees. Nature was my obstacle course as well as steep hills. A driver’s license was easy to get…very easy! But then, my German instructor was not at all easy when it comes to HIS wife as his student especially. Yes, our intense bickerings while driving was the usual lines “I know what I am doing. etcetera…” It was fun while it lasted 
!
A volkswagen–my dream car when I was young. I found it too cute to resist then.
As for your swerving between cows and huge acacia trees, now, they don’t teach that in driving schools. Your driving skills now are probably two notches higher than other drivers! I’m sure your driving lessons with your husband were fun. At least for you. Men teaching their wives how to drive, now that is a test of love and commitment.
Go Beng! Go go go
Literally!
Tapos weekend drive tayo sa Tagaytay!!!
Ang taas agad ng pangarap mo para sa akin ah!
Somebody with an Innova will probably get a license so much sooner than me, haha.:) Pero sige, we will make that our goal–drive to Tagaytay. It will be a blast.
one of the sweetest moments with my husband was when he was teaching me how to drive. (di pa rin ako marunong mag-drive). sige na, beng, learn how to drive, then pick us up for baking lesson in you house, er, taste test pala. hehe:-)
let him drive, baby! one thing i hate naman is they don’t want to ask direction.grrr! i don’t know how to drive, but i can read road signs.
one thing a man appreciates when he drives with his woman is: never, never utter any negative comment on his driving style even if it’s your car he’s driving.
drive test – is the test of patience between husband and wife when something wrong happens to the car on a long trip or when the driver (wife or husband) makes a wrong turn.
I will remember that: never, never utter any negative comment on his driving style. The guys reading this are probably saying, “Yes! Yes! Tell that to all women!” So far though, I don’t think I’ve ever done this to any of my guy friends or brother. I just let them drive, just as long as they know where we are going. I hope I’ll stay the same even after I get my license, hehe.
Game na, paturo ka na kay Jun. And then you can go travel all over Pinas again.
My ex-wife drives her own car, but it was yours truly who pays for the maintenance and annual insurance premium. So don’t blame me if I don’t see anything sexy in a woman who drives.
Hehe, wala lang. Just trying to recall my lessons.
I won’t blame you but as in driving, you need to start the car, hit the clutch and shift the gear so you can “move on” or else you’ll stay parked forever.