Wow, who would have guessed one errand could trigger such a roller coaster ride of emotions! Oh, it’s me Asa. Recently Dad took me to the Subaru dealership, but never told me the purpose for our errand. Instead, Dad just sat me down in the waiting room and put a Barkley “Driving Lesson” brochure in front of me. Was the purpose of this trip to teach me to drive?
Instantly I thought of the most epic road trip movie ever made, namely “The Muppet Movie!” I can see it now. Chuck Billy and I driving across the country just like Kermit and Fozzie on a grand adventure, seeking fame and fortune, with plenty of hijinks and laughs along the way. But then my mind turned to the movie “Smokey and the Bandit,” reminding me that driving is a lot of responsibility. After all he had “a long way to go and a short time to get there.” Surely I’m overthinking this. Every time the Subaru ad comes on with the Barkley family teaching their teenage pup to parallel park, Mom or Dad inevitably comment that the dog is a better driver than my Mom. If Mom passed her driving test, how hard could it be? I studied the brochure.
There didn’t seem to be a lot of info in the brochure to teach someone to drive, other than “Driving lesson #1: Paws at 10 and 2.” Where’s 10 and 2? I’m a member of the digital generation. Who uses clocks anymore? As I scanned the room for an old fashion clock, I noticed another dog in the opposite corner with his Mom. Was he there to learn to drive too? Maybe he could explain what clocks have to do with driving? That’s when I noticed the desk behind me. I hope this isn’t a classroom lesson. I want to hit the road!
Just when I started to burst with excitement that the Barkleys would be there at any moment to start my first driving lesson, a woman entered the waiting room and told Dad our oil change was complete. Oil change? That’s the reason why we’re here? Filled with disappointment, I headed for home, paying closer attention than ever before to how Dad drove. Who needs lessons? I’ll just teach myself!
