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Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they appear
By Bob Ede
The other day my son Hunter turned 16. After school he wrote the driving exam earning him his learner’s license. This means he can legally drive as long as an adult accompanies him.
I have let Hunter drive the back roads for several years now. He is pretty good. He knows how to put the truck into four wheel drive and crawl up and down rough roads.
This week was his first turn at driving the roads around town. He had to deal with obeying the signs and watching for other drivers. He is learning not to cut the corners too wide and when to slow and accelerate through a curve. He is learning to park between the lines down at Valley Foods. Today he took me for a drive and went through the drive-through at A&W, buying me a coffee in the process. Very nice for me.
Later, he was driving towards the school and spied a couple of young ladies (his age) walking on the side of the road. He checked them out and gave them a wave. For this I chastised him. I told him, with his limited driving experience he cannot drive and look at girls. I told him he would have to be driving at least two years before he could do both safely. After all it is a skill that must be fostered, learned, perfected.
He wasn’t sure I was serious or joking around. So I punctuated the conversation by saying I was ‘serious.’ Very serious!
I went on to say that after four years of driving, if he was skilled, he might even be able to master the, ‘back glance.’ I explained the ‘back glance’ is when a pretty woman is walking towards the vehicle and after driving by you glance in the rear view mirror to see what she looks like walking away.
This, I said, was an advanced driving skill, and should not be attempted without proper training and experience. I elaborated saying, I’ve seen good drivers drive in the ditch attempting this maneuver.
Hunter glanced up quick into the rear view mirror. His eyes went back on the road. His hands were 10 to two on the steering wheel.
I said, “Why do you think they call it the ‘rear’ view mirror?”
He was thinking. I had him, but only for a moment, and then he said, “Aw, Dad!”
We both laughed. It was a beautiful fall day. It’s true; the little things are the big things.
Bob Ede finally gets to see the sites while being taxied around by his 16-year-old chauffeur. He can be reached at: www.palliserpass.wordpress.com.
