Return To Valley Means Learning To Drive Again

What a delightful experience I had as I drove east on Sprague this morning. No one tailgated me, cut me off, honked at me or let me know I was No. 1.

I must be becoming a much better driver than I used to be, or maybe the spring sunshine has just made people more tolerant.

When I moved to the Valley last fall, after being gone from Spokane for a number of years, I had to learn to drive all over again. This place has become a big city.

I am a nervous, fidgety driver with just a small amount of confidence. There were snowy days last winter when I felt I owed the drivers behind me an apology.

I kept looking around to see what makes other drivers so aggressive.

I think I need a white van.

I’ve noticed that when a female is driving a white van she becomes a powerful figure.

A florist shop’s white van followed me so closely one day I could see only the van’s emblem in my rearview mirror. As the van made a sudden departure from Sprague into a parking lot I could see that a female was driving it. I thought how confident she must be to follow me so closely, expecially when she could see the big dent in my bumper.

Another day there was a white van, with a female behind the wheel, tailgating and honking. I thought at first I might know her, so looked up as she rushed around me and into the left turn lane.

I didn’t recognize her but she let me know I was No. 1 on her list.

As I drove through my green light, and she sat waiting at her red light, I honked and waved back. I knew she had plenty of confidence so I let her know she was only No. 5 on my list.

The tailgating, the honking, even the finger waving didn’t get her any further ahead of me.

It must be those white vans I thought, that are the culprit.

Then there are the people who care so much for the gentle looking elderly lady that they put “Be Alert” stickers all across the back of her car.

I realized how thoughtful they were as I watched the lady pull out in front of a car that had to stand on its nose to keep from hitting her. Someone knew she needed to be looked after.

I firmly believe that if you’re going to keep the body going strong you have to keep the mind active. That’s one reason I’m always eager to learn new things and take on new challenges.

Recently, while sitting behind about 20 cars at the light on Pines and Sprague, I decided I would try to be more inventive in how I drive.

I alertly discovered that I could save time and avoid heavy traffic by using alleys and secondary streets.

I know I’m going to be a better driver for having thought these things out.

My next project is going to be driving through car lots.

I’ll be searching for that white van that will make me a driver of the ‘90s. If I can’t find one, I’ll keep an eye out for some of those “Be Alert” stickers.