A Few Firsts

Start. Stop. Shake. Start. Stop. Shake. Laugh. Start. Stop. Shake. Laugh some more.

What is that you ask? Sam teaching me to drive a stick shift in NZ on the other side of the car. Oh my gosh is all I can say. There was much laughter, a little frustration and lots of feeling stupid. We are SO thankful that we have a car, but I can't really drive it and it's a boy racer car. What is a boy racer car you ask? Well here in NZ, it is the car the fast driving, a little "bad boy," guys drive. Sam said that I should equate it to the racing they do in the Fast and the Furious.....all I know is that I definitely don't fit the stereo type when people see me driving this car.

I can tend to feel a little trapped not being able to drive when and where I want. I haven't really gone there too much in my head and just accepted this season of life as it is. And Sam's mom lets me borrow the car all the time if she is home. She has an automatic and has been so generous. I secretly don't want to learn how to drive the car, but I know it would make me feel better. I just don't want to go through the hard work of it. Isn't that how it is sometimes? I know it will help me feel more empowered and safe. I know it is a smart thing to learn. I just don't want to feel so stupid as I learn to drive it. I already have that "I'm so foreign and feel dumb" feeling so often here. But today Sam finally convinced me to try. When he asked everything in me wanted to say no, but I did it.

Now remember Sam used to be a race car driver and drove stick shifts in rally car races (car races that were on main winding roads), so to him this is second nature. He is amazing at maneuvering the car on a dime....me on the other hand is the polar opposite. Like much of our relationship we are night and day in this area!

I got the shifting of gears, for the most part, but for the life of me I could not get starting and stopping, which is quite an important part of driving. Finally at a busy, main road we had to stop and Sam had to jump back in the driver's seat and get us home. He asked if I wanted more practice once we were on the road that is a bit less busy by our house, but at that point I decided my lesson for the day was over.

Instead, I went for my first jog in about a year with Sam and his brother riding their bikes next to me. It felt nice to get back into it, but OH MY GOODNESS I am OUT OF SHAPE! I decided to be smart and not over do it thinking that I am in the shape I was last time I lived in NZ. I thought that a run up to the Quarry and back would be fine. It is a pretty steep hill up there, but I figured it wasn't that long of a trek so I would be fine. Well, I was dying!!! I could barely breathe, my throat hurt, I was shuffling along like I was 80....but I made it to the spot I wanted to and back home. I laughed at the fact that it was maybe a half mile...maybe. I used to be able to run 2 or 3 miles without blinking an eye. Not any more. There will be much much much blinking of eyes before I can see 3 miles again.

Today was a day of firsts again. First time really learning to drive a stick. First time driving a stick on the opposite side of the car and the road. First run of the summer. Today begins the official start to Summer here and for me the beginning of wanting to decorate for Christmas. So many first this year and they seem to keep coming!

I will keep you updated on the driving....I am not sure that I will be doing solo drives anytime soon, but we will see. I am a pretty stubborn thing and when I want to conquer something I usually do. Sam was laughing so hard at one point and said, "It will just take time honey." And I was quick to respond in my youngest child voice, "No it won't! I will have this down fast." Will see how this goes....my pride might motivate me far faster than he thinks :)