I remember when I went to take my driving test.

The test center was located outside Lebanon, PA, just off Route 422.

I felt confident, as Mr. Spangler had taught Pam and me well, and I had had lots of practice driving, so I was sure that I’d have no problems passing the test.

And things seemed to go well at first, as inside the building I passed the eye exam with what I had to assume were flying colors. At least the examiner let me go on to the next phase, and he certainly wouldn’t have done that if I had flunked, now would he? And I knew that my eyesight was quite good.

I think there was some sort of question and answer test to take as well. I remember having to study the pamphlet of all the traffic laws of Pennsylvania, of which there were a lot, but although I remember taking the eye exam, I have no memory of taking the test. But I must have. And I must have passed. After all, taking multiple choice tests is my superpower.

My next memory is of sitting in the car in the driver’s seat with some old police officer (well, he looked old to my 16-year-old self) in the passenger seat. And he had a take no prisoners attitude.

He said go, and I went.

And suddenly all my confidence went flying out the window.

He was barking orders at me like my uncle Allen had been at Jane, but this was far worse because I knew he could flunk me on the driver’s test. 

The test driving area was all marked out and all one had to do was maneuver the car through it, and had Mr. Spangler been sitting in the passenger seat, there wouldn’t have been a problem. But with this guy, who seemed like he enjoyed nothing better than flunking every 16-year-old kid that came his way, I became a bundle of nerves.

At one point when I was supposed to make a turn, I forgot to flick on the turning signal.

“Put on your turning signal!” barked the officer.

“Oh, yeah,” I meekly replied, as I flicked the lever down to turn on the signal.

“Don’t give me any of that ‘yeah’, kid, or you’ll find yourself back here again!” 

That angry remark from the cop seared into my consciousness, and I was certain I had flunked.

Somehow we got to the end of the test, and to my utter amazement, he passed me.

Was he trying to upset me on purpose to see how I’d react under a little pressure?

I have no idea. All I know is I got my driver’s license that day.