Re-Learning to Drive

This past weekend I had driving lessons. I hopped into a car with my dad as teacher in the passenger's seat, and could have sworn I had done this same thing ten years ago. In fact, I HAD done this over a decade ago, the difference being a stick shift in the new car. As we drove to a parking lot and I went around in cirlces, trying to master the delicate balance of switching from the clutch to the accerlater...not too fast or the wheels will spin and squeak, not to slow or the car will stall. (think of an egg underneath the gas peddle, my dad encouraged when I pressed too hard). I am learning this new skill out of obligation, having sold my beloved (and easy) automatic car. If I wanted to drive, I needed to learn to maneuver boyfriend's manual car. It's hard to learn something new. I haven't done it in a while. It's humbling. And frustrating. Trying to teach your body, your mind to loosen up and absorb this new thing you're making it do. Being patient when you don't catch on as quickly as you want to. You know the ideal--shifting gears effortlessly and smoothly--but you can't quite get there. At least not yet.