I Did It! I Drove Again! Thanks Be to God!

I was too ashamed to write posts before I had overcome my fears of driving again. Yesterday, I woke up and prayed to the Lord for courage to drive. I have missed so much of the holiday events and just stayed at home. The quiet finally got to me. I surprised my husband by telling him I would drive us to the hiking trail. And I did it! I was nervous, but I reminded myself that if something happened to Douglas, we would be stuck in our subdivision with no help. I could be the difference between life and death for my husband.

I drove down Highway 278, a 65 mph stretch of highway, at about 57 mph. I set the cruise control, took my foot off the accelerator, and just concentrated on keeping the car going straight in my lane. The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox that I call “Essie” makes adjustments to keep me from getting too close to the white lines on both sides. I did not fight with the feature, although my first tendency is to regain control of the steering wheel. I just stayed as calm as possible. At one point, as several cars came around me as I drove in the slow lane, I started to be anxious. But I reminded myself to just drive and know that only one person can have control of the car and that’s me. There was another lane for them to go around me, and it wasn’t as if I was doing 40 mph or less and putting people in danger.

When we arrived at the trailhead, I had to do the parking twice, as I wasn’t fully pulled forward. But, it was such a moment of thanksgiving to God, and my husband told me that I did great. We walked four miles on the trail, two miles uphill and two miles back down. It was cold, but I had on a heated vest that my husband bought me, so I was soon sweating. I planned to drive us back home, but my husband wanted to play disc golf before it got dark, so he drove us home at the recommended 65 mph.

I wasn’t comfortable driving at that speed, but I will practice doing so over the next weeks, as I prepare to drive to the bus every Tuesday and Thursday mornings starting January 3 as I finish my Master’s degree next semester. I need to feel comfortable at higher speeds so I can drive on the interstates.

It’s funny that 23 years ago, I learned to drive at age 50 for my birthday, a gift to myself. Yesterday, I drove as a Christmas gift to my husband and me. Merry Christmas to all of you. May the Lord bless you real good in 2025!