She passed!

I have been teaching my "adopted daughter" Sara to drive for the past several months. She took her driver's test yesterday and passed the first time! It gives her freedom. I feel like I accomplished something, not just Sara. But I will miss driving around with her and getting all that one-on-one time together. She is a busy young woman who goes to school and works full time. It doesn't seem like that long ago that we were in the Sports Arena parking lot, going round and round so that she could get used to the pedals, steering and breaking (and avoiding large obstacles like fences and other cars). We moved on from that to one-way streets behind the Sports Arena, going round and round the same few blocks. The first time Sara drove on the freeway seemed like a huge step. We again went round and round, getting on one on-ramp, going up one exit and getting off, crossing over the freeway and getting back on again in the opposite direction to get off at the original exit. Parking was problematic; fortunately they took parallel parking off the test.

Today Sara drove herself to work on the freeway. I wonder how it was for her. I remember when I drove for the first time on my own. The car felt empty and I felt truly alone, surrounded by cars full of strangers. But I also felt empowered and all grown up.

I am proud of Sara. Next, her sister is going to get a driving permit and I will teach her.