1965 - 1st Time I Drove a Stick Shift

Kits: A combo of travel kits by Kimeric Designs & an old freebie:
By Plane by Train by Automobile
Traveler
A Great Adventure
Paint beneath the title: Hello Summer by Amber Shaw
Fonts: Andy Bear, Bestie & Ameston Sans Regular

Mike and I, with my daughter, Tanya, were on our way from Alexandria to Parris Island, SC to see my brother Jay graduate from the Marine recruit training program there. (And that was whole ‘nother story) There weren’t any interstate highways yet, so we were on Hwy 17, a main north-south route at the time. Someplace in southern North Carolina or northern South Carolina, Mike decided it was time I learned to drive a stick shift, never mind that I didn’t have a driver’s license and really hadn’t driven much of anything. There was a reason behind this madness, actually. A few months before, when we were down by the river someplace in the wilderness of Quantico, Mike cut his foot very badly and still had to drive to the emergency room because I couldn’t drive a stick shift. So, I got behind the wheel, Mike explained what I needed to do, and once I got it started (not on my first try), I pulled onto the highway. Traffic was light and I had no problems - until I started up the bridge at Charleston. This bridge was old (1929 old), narrow (built for Model T’s), and steep (6% grade up). I was doing ok until traffic stopped for the stoplight at the base of the bridge on the Charleston side. And then, I couldn’t do anything except hold the car in place. Traffic backed up, horns honking, leaving no room behind me. Mike got out of the passenger side and walked around, getting in the driver’s seat while I climbed over the gear stick to the passenger side. No big deal - any new driver could have had trouble. Thankfully, he drove all the way through Charleston before he pulled over and let me drive again. A little later, we saw a gas station up the road and Mike asked me to stop. So, I pulled in to the parking lot. There was a pickup with two guys in it sitting there, and I realized I could. not. stop. the. car. I will never forget the looks on their faces as they changed from “oh, she’s stopping” to the incredulous realization that I was not. The car was moving very slow when I, indeed, ran into their front fender. No one moved. No one spoke. Finally, Mike looked at me and asked “why did you do that?” I just blurted out that it wouldn’t stop, and then covered my mouth because when I am very nervous, I laugh - and I knew this was not the time to laugh. By this time the guys in the truck were shaking their heads in disbelief. Mike got out of the car and the guys got out of their truck, looked to see any damage, (happily, there wasn’t) talked for a minute, all three shook their heads, still in disbelief, and continued on with what they were doing before I interrupted them. Mike drove the rest of the way (and all the way home). We laughed about it for years afterwards, but Mike never got over his astonishment that I actually hit them. Fun times.