Home » Poems » John Watt » Learning To Drive, Learning To Live

Learning To Drive, Learning To Live

My father, teaching me to drive: the stick-shift car stalls crossing the thoroughfare - bus approaching from the left, 18-wheeler storming in from the right, I freak out and squawk, believing we are going to die. My dad is unfazed: "Don't panic, just drive. Put the car in gear and drive." Advice I still use.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Aditi Mishra

Date: 7/26/2020 7:38:00 AM

Ah! What a useful piece of advice that is. I believe you drive skillfully now. With this memory, I am sure my driving lessons have been similar to yours. My dad had a hard time keeping up his patience with me though :D Congratulations on your win dear friend. Keep writing and inspiring. I've been a little caught up with my routine getting just enough time to write on PS. Glad I am able to visit your poems now :) God bless you. Hope you are well.

John Watt
Date: 7/28/2020 6:04:00 PM

Dads can be very good at teaching patience, yes? I'm glad you have made the time in your busy life to visit and encourage me this week, it has been a great blessing to me ~ John

Rercy Zola-Zaba

Date: 7/23/2020 3:40:00 AM

How very creative to compare life to driving a car, no matter what life throws at us we should know that as long as you behind the steering wheel u still have control ,don't let fear overshadow you, just keep on driving. I love love this John, this is amazing and inspirational. Thank you for sharing!

John Watt
Date: 7/28/2020 6:03:00 PM

Yes you get my meaning exactly, Rercy. Thank you so much for the very kind review and thoughtful commentary. I'm so glad this spoke to you!

Krish Radhakrishna

Date: 7/16/2020 2:55:00 AM

Congrats on your win John! Teaching driving is one of the great hazards of being a father! I have had my cardiac moments with my daughter in the driving seat!!

John Watt
Date: 7/16/2020 9:54:00 AM

So have I, Krish. Thankfully, we all survived! Thanks for coming by with congrats, my friend.

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib

Date: 7/14/2020 1:33:00 PM

Back with congratulations! :))) xomo!

John Watt
Date: 7/14/2020 2:28:00 PM

Aww, thanks so much, Mo. It's great to have you as a poetry friend. Hugs ~ John

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/14/2020 12:14:00 PM

so glad to see this a big winner, John!! Congratulations.

John Watt
Date: 7/14/2020 12:43:00 PM

Thank you, my sweet poetry friend!

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 7/14/2020 3:59:00 AM

Congratulations; this is such a testament to the calm patience of a wise father.

John Watt
Date: 7/14/2020 12:43:00 PM

Amen to that, I learned so much about patience and steadfastness from my dad. Thanks for the lovely comment, Caren!

Beata Agustin

Date: 7/14/2020 1:13:00 AM

Wow! Congrats! Thanks for sharing this prudent advice, presented poetically. God bless you. Also, and even expressed again, thanks for constantly cheering up my spirit through your edifying comments.

John Watt
Date: 7/14/2020 12:41:00 PM

I'm glad you saw the wisdom in my dad's counsel, and I'm glad the Lord can use me to cheer your spirit. God is good!

John Watt
Date: 7/14/2020 1:23:00 AM

I'm glad you saw the wisdom in my dad's counsel, and I'm glad the Lord can use me to cheer your spirit. God is good!

Sam Kauffman

Date: 7/13/2020 10:17:00 PM

Vivid memory John well expressed! I certainly can relate. Congratulations!

John Watt
Date: 7/14/2020 12:17:00 AM

Sam, I shared this story at my dad's funeral in 2000. It still registers deeply with me. His was a good example to follow in so many ways. Thanks for the kind congrats, my dear friend ~ John

Jcb Brul

Date: 7/13/2020 9:35:00 PM

Nice advice dear poet John. Congratulations..

John Watt
Date: 7/14/2020 12:18:00 AM

I still try to follow my dad's counsel. He was one of the friendliest people I've ever known. He died 20 years ago and would have turned 100 last week.

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 7/12/2020 11:04:00 PM

I didn't learn to drive until I was twenty - my mom gave me one lesson, then I paid a service to teach me (and it was a lot easier than learning from her, gotta say) Yes, sometimes when you are afraid of the road ahead, you just need to drive through it - very important message.

Rhonda Johnson-Saunders

Date: 7/12/2020 6:34:00 PM

Great advice from a wise man. When teaching me how to drive, my dad was patient, too, until I caged my car in a high chain-link fence at the park and ride going in reverse. He thought we were safe in an empty parking lot, but if there was something to hit, I would find it. Thanks for sharing and bringing back memories I can laugh about now :) Rhonda xx

John Watt
Date: 7/12/2020 6:44:00 PM

Oh, I'm laughing through my tears, Rhonda. Not at you of course, just relating to the stress of all the things you have to remember and the terror of those first times in traffic. Thanks for the share ~ John

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/12/2020 3:29:00 PM

Good one. Such practical advice he gave you!

John Watt
Date: 7/12/2020 5:31:00 PM

Yes, he was very good at giving practical advice.

Akham Nilabirdhwaja Singh

Date: 7/12/2020 3:02:00 AM

Lesson from the past-very nicely penned.

John Watt
Date: 7/12/2020 3:31:00 PM

I appreciate the comment, Akham. It's nice to meet you ~ John

Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib

Date: 7/11/2020 10:45:00 PM

Made my pulse increase a little bit there, a little too in your moment ;). Well done! Finished with a chuckle, remembering stalling my driving instructor's automatic three times learning to parallel park (apparently that's hard to do). Transferable advice from your dad, and a great write. Good luck in the contest! xomo

John Watt
Date: 7/12/2020 2:30:00 AM

It's okay to be in my moment, Pidge! I love that you could relate... okay now, breathe... breathe... lol! Thanks for the great comment, my friend ~ John

Gershon Wolf

Date: 7/11/2020 10:39:00 PM

Love it. Absolutely love it. So resonant with me. I also learned on a stick shift, in the middle of a winter, going up a 45 degree angle hill -- with a stop sign at top and a line of cars on that hill. 'Nuff said! Smiles, Gershon

John Watt
Date: 7/12/2020 2:29:00 AM

Laughing out loud, not at you, with you! Those darn hills, and always the impatient drivers behind you! Thanks for chiming in, friend.

Constance La France

Date: 7/11/2020 10:16:00 PM

John, great write, this brings back memories of myself trying to learn the stick shift, best of luck in the contest.

John Watt
Date: 7/11/2020 11:41:00 PM

Thank you, Constance. Always grateful and appreciative of your thoughtful comments.