I learned to drive a car when I was 19 and got my driver's permit on New Year's Eve of that year. I firmly believe that everyone should learn to drive but after teaching a couple of sons and a friend, I'm not so eager to get into the 'classroom on wheels' (car) and give lessons.

My most memorable student was a friend we'll call Joy. Joy was well into her forties and had never driven. The recent end of her marriage made it necessary to be able to transport herself around as we lived in a rural area. The decision was made to combine an evening out attending a concert with driving lessons.

With Joy behind the wheel, we motored from her home to town to pick up a third friend. In those days, only one licensed driver and the student driver were allowed in the car so I took over the driving from that point to the concert. After the concert ended, I once again drove to the other friend's home, dropped her off and Joy and I changed spots with her now behind the wheel.

Once we got out of town, Joy did swimmingly, driving as though she had been doing it her whole life. She lived off the main highway on a side road and as we approached her road, I remember thinking to myself, 'she knows that at this speed, she can't make that turn.' I figured she would pass her road and turn around and drive back at a more reasonable speed. Was I wrong. With a hard turn of the steering wheel, Joy swung onto the unpaved road, slid across it and into a ditch that was about 8 feet deep. Luckily the car didn't flip but it was at a precarious angle. As I climbed out I remember thinking that it was like climbing out of a hole. On Joy's side, she opened the driver's door and gravity provided the rest of her exit with her falling out and into the bottom of the ditch. The alders and burdocks hardly provided a soft landing but once we realized that we were both alright, we saw the humour in the situation and literally laughed until we cried. By this time it was well past midnight.

I could go on about dragging a large chain to a couple of friends' homes in search of a truck or vehicle to drag the car out but that would take too long. The next day Joy hired a wrecker to get her car back on the road. The car was relatively undamaged.

Eventually Joy got her license and drives all over the place. Recently I started going out with my granddaughter while she practices her driving. So far we've not hit any ditches.

Learn more about this author, France Burlingham.
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