Ricky Bobby who??

Candice Underwood
Sep 20, 2023
4 min read

A few weeks ago Austin and I went to my friend Hali's baby's birthday party. On the way there we got behind a vehicle (I didn't think we were close at all but Austin said we were) and a rock hit the wind shield if his (our) new Miata. We get to the party it doesn't look great but it's not cracked across the windshield so that's good. Well, we go into the party, put some temporary tattoos on the baby (Sara, Jerrit, Austin and I gave him a lot, including a shark & lightning bolts tramp stamp).

We go to leave and there is about an eight inch crack extending from the initial contact point (I guess the heat helped to cause that). He called Safe Lite to set it up and turns out you have to take it into the shop because of the electrical components that are next to the windshield. Well, Austin is in the Air Force Reserves and was having to leave for Hawaii soon (just so y'all know, I don't think God wanted this man to travel. He went to Cali when there was a hurricane [first one in history], also experienced a small earthquake while he was there [not uncommon but still] and had to go to Hawaii shortly after the major fire occurred. Earth, fire, water, that's 3 out of 4 elements. I told him to stay out of Oklahoma...) So unless we were going to wait 3 weeks to get it fixed I was going to have to drive it, all the way to Dalton, by myself.

Just a little background here, I was never taught to drive a manual growing up. Back around 2010ish my ex taught me a little with my Dad's Mustang (well, as much as you can teach a person in one night). But other than that my knowledge and driving capabilities of a manual were slim to say the least. Fast forward to June of this year. Austin bought the Miata and started teaching me. Over all I feel like I've been a quick learner (but the frustration I felt did bring back memories of me learning to ride a bike when I was like nine and getting so fucking frustrated I threw the bike down. God what a brat [I can ride a bike btw. I learned, begrudgingly and with tears in my eyes, but I did it 😅]). I did (and still do) stall more than I would like but you can't win 'em all.

I'd driven it on the road with him at least 5 times (it definitely doesn't sound like a lot, nor does that sound like I should've been driving alone over an hour away). So he asks if I'd be comfortable driving it that far by myself. I was hesitant for a fraction of a sec but decided I needed the experience.

Y'all...I must've been a race car driver in a past life. When I really got the hang of shifting gears, I was scootin' boy. I turned into Ricky Bobby (I wanna go fast!). I completely understand now why people like driving manual vehicles (specifically sporty cars). I hadn't been the most comfortable with my take offs or backing up but I sure got the experience during this trip because there was a wreck on the main road I was taking (a car went down a hill but everyone was fine) but it was going to be an hour before the road would be accessible. Well I didn't have the time to wait around so I had to turn around and I did good! I only stalled twice (not while backing up though).

Got to dalton, did some shopping at their mall (Also can I just say that ya girl is broke, like I need to be picking up some shifts. And I don't know why but not having money makes me want to spend more. I'm just gonna assume it's the "retail therapy" that is "helping" me cope with the stress of being broke, but it's actually just adding to it 🥲), drove back home speed racer style (I took Dad on a ride and he literally called me Speed Racer like the show), stopped to take pictures of the gorgeous view, and got home and was lazy as fuck scrolling FB and IG and making goofy ass TikToks. Over all super productive day. I will never understand how I'll look down at my phone at 10 pm and when I look at the clock again it's 4 am. Like, what just happened??? ugh...

Morals of todays story:

learn to drive a manual (if a zombie apocalypse happens and that vehicle is the only one with gas and you can't drive it, you're fucked)
never give up, be mad and get frustrated, but take a breath and try again. You'll be fine. You may think you can't do something but I assure you, you can.
Temporary tattoos on babies are hilarious.
Don't spend money you don't have
Stay far enough behind vehicles that you don't get a rock to the windshield.
if you ain't first, you're last
veg out for a little while if you need to but for God's sake set a timer or you'll be sitting there for 6 hours and nothing will get done