Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[beans-on-toast]

I remember talking my driving test. First you had to take an eye test, then the written. The eye test was reading a chart. If you could pass without your glasses, you didn't get that restriction. Then the road test. It was a big loop through city streets at rush hour including parallel parking. I took the test in an old Chevy. The license was typed out on a piece of paper, no photo ID. There was no such thing as a motorcycle endorsement at the time, it was any vehicle up to a certain weight, including small trucks. There was what they called a chauffeur's license, that was for commercial driving.

I was never allowed to drive my parent's car. Took my bicycle to work. I worked in a factory and drove a forklift truck.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

How old is he? I remember what a rite of passage this was. I could finally drive to high school.

He is 16. Had to complete 30 hrs of online instruction. Joshua's Law here in Georgia.
He drove to the girlfriends and to her softball game last night. But yes, the Big Deal will be Monday morning at school. Eric is a year younger than everyone else so he is one of the last drivers in 11th grade.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

He is 16. Had to complete 30 hrs of online instruction. Joshua's Law here in Georgia.
He drove to the girlfriends and to her softball game last night. But yes, the Big Deal will be Monday morning at school. Eric is a year younger than everyone else so he is one of the last drivers in 11th grade.

Of course sappy Dad had to take a pic of him driving alone for the 1st time.

 

[G-Dog]

I took my son for his driving road test today. He passed and got his license. I am happy but sad. He isn't going to be my baby boy anymore.

Congratulations, Jazzy! It's a major milestone toward independence which is, of course, the main goal. Is it a learner's permit requiring a licensed driver ride with him?

My grandson is nearing the end of his learner's permit. Next month he gets his full license. This after the last several years that I've been driving him to private school in a neighboring town. As the family retired old frt, and both mom & dad working, I gladly took on the task to spend time with him. And I've been rewarded with many, many great philosophical and practical discussions on the rides.

Now, with dad working from home, I believe the kid prefers dad riding with him instead of me, which I encourage. I told dad he may never have a better bonding experience with his son again after next month, so he should enjoy it while he can!
.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

Congratulations, Jazzy! It's a major milestone toward independence which is, of course, the main goal. Is it a learner's permit requiring a licensed driver ride with him?

My grandson is nearing the end of his learner's permit. Next month he gets his full license. This after the last several years that I've been driving him to private school in a neighboring town. As the family retired old frt, and both mom & dad working, I gladly took on the task to spend time with him. And I've been rewarded with many, many great philosophical and practical discussions on the rides.

Now, with dad working from home, I believe the kid prefers dad riding with him instead of me, which I encourage. I told dad he may never have a better bonding experience with his son again after next month, so he should enjoy it while he can!
.

Thanks, G. 16 yr old teens must possess a learner's permit for a year and a day to be eligible for class D driver's license. That is what the road test is for, class D.

 

[Jeff Scott]

It's a major milestone toward independence which is, of course, the main goal.

At 16 I had a different main objective. Driving was, of course, another goal.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Still want to fly?

 

[G-Dog]

At 16 I had a different main objective. Driving was, of course, another goal.

I cannot imagine a 16-year-old's goal, back in the last century, that driving couldn't facilitate. But that's probably just me.

That said, I have two teenage grandsons, right now, that are more into video gaming than driving. And, yeah, independence doesn't even seem to be on their radar, ... at all! The older one of them is having many "heart-to-heart" conversations with his dad, whose goal definitely is independence. The younger one of them, that I ride with, has a slightly older brother that is just as shocked as I am! He, too, was, and is, an avid gamer, but was always even more avid about driving. And, that brother is now making occasional "flights from the nest" involving weeklong interstate construction jobs that, I believe, will lead to his independence, one way or another.

But, as always, YMMV
.

 

[GonePlaid]

I cannot imagine a 16-year-old's goal, back in the last century, that driving couldn't facilitate. But that's probably just me.

That said, I have two teenage grandsons, right now, that are more into video gaming than driving. And, yeah, independence doesn't even seem to be on their radar, ... at all! The older one of them is having many "heart-to-heart" conversations with his dad, whose goal definitely is independence. The younger one of them, that I ride with, has a slightly older brother that is just as shocked as I am! He, too, was, and is, an avid gamer, but was always even more avid about driving. And, that brother is now making occasional "flights from the nest" involving weeklong interstate construction jobs that, I believe, will lead to his independence, one way or another.

But, as always, YMMV
.

At 14 I got my restricted(in FL at the time "with adult supervision"); at 16, my "operator's"; 2 days after turning 18(it was the weekend)got my "chauffeur's"(which many years later became CDL*). Drove 18 wheelers from 84 to 07 and many a straight truck from ~69-84. As a co-worker once told me, "somebody always wants something moved from one place to another and is willing to pay someone else to do it." Earned a lotta beer money that way.
*Commercial Drivers License

 

[Winslow]

I cannot imagine a 16-year-old's goal, back in the last century, that driving couldn't facilitate.

One possible workaround for a non-driving 16-year-old was to have an 18-year-old girlfriend.

So one may have heard, anyway.

 

[G-Dog]

One possible workaround for a non-driving 16-year-old was to have an 18-year-old girlfriend.

So one may have heard, anyway.

No bout adoubt it, Winny! That kinda thang has, historically, always been a major short term goal for many which, of course, tends to lead to a desire for independence and, eventually, even more long-term goals. C'est la vie!

Unfortunately, my two grandsons have, so far, resisted their parents' matchmaking efforts. The younger one, though, had a crush, then a steady, for a few weeks!
.

 

[Winslow]

...which, of course, tends to lead to more long-term goals.

Fortunately, all long-term bullets were dodged...


...y'know, by whoever that rumor was about.

 

[G-Dog]

Fortunately, all long-term bullets were dodged...


...y'know, by whoever that rumor was about.

Yeah, no, I don't think so. If you live long enough you will experience many "long-term bullets"! The trick is, I believe, to wisely choose (as much as you can, when you can) which "wounds" you're willing to suffer. No one gets outta here unscathed. But, I find that some "scathings", or "wounds", are more rewarding, long-term, than others (even if you don't know it at the time).

You know what they say, "All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe."
.

 

[Winslow]

No one said anyone got out unscathed from everything.

Just unscathed by that.

 

[GonePlaid]

Yeah, one bullet dodged wouldn't have been very long-term, but woulda been interesting b4 the im/explosion.

 

[notJaco]

Here is a good vibe wish for our constituents in the New Orleans and neighboring area. Looks like it is going to be a rough one. Tennessee is going to get clobbered with even more rain. Yowsah!

 

[Jeff Scott]

One possible workaround for a non-driving 16-year-old was to have an 18-year-old girlfriend.

So one may have heard, anyway.

I've heard that, too...

...set your...

 

[markwrob]

One possible workaround for a non-driving 16-year-old was to have an 18-year-old girlfriend.

So one may have heard, anyway.

Soooo, she gave you driving instructions then, huh?

 

[GwenOnBass]

Here at Dead & Company there's a lady wearing a Niagara Falls hat and slowly I turned

 

[notJaco]

Here at Dead & Company there's a lady wearing a Niagara Falls hat and slowly I turned

View attachment 4386622

That's how I turn these days to keep from falling down.