Drive safely and buckle up Kentucky

Great news.:thumb:

We finally got out around 7:30 PM Central Time. I sat in the driveway letting the minivan's interior warm up and the windows unfog while savoring being in the driver's seat. Trust me...after not being there for such a long time after loving to drive as I did, you would really appreciate what a special feeling it is to be back in the saddle!:banana::banana:I just sat there soaking it in while catching 60s and 70s music on Sirius with Mrs PH there smiling the whole time.

 

Once I got moving, we headed to Briarwood Manor Subdivision and ran by the former homes of old friends of mine. Then we went by Potter-Gray Elementary school, my first school after moving here from Franklin in 1970. After that, we proceeded to BGHS, where I graduated in the Class of 1977. Listening to Sirius and being in that parking lot really took me back!:ylsuper:I drove a 1970 Chevy Impala 4dr Sedan at the time.

 

After the trip down Memory Lane and testing rusty but still present driving skills, we went to a donut shop and then to Steak 'n' Shake, then back home. I'm proud to say that I didn't leave paint or damage wheels in the drive thru!! Mrs PH gave me an "A" for my first effort, and we had a fun and rewarding time!

How was it getting used to the hand controls?

How was it getting used to the hand controls?

 

It wasn't too hard at all...it will take some time for it to be second nature in case of an emergency situation, but shoving the handbar toward the front to panic stop is the most important thing. I tried one that we had to mount ourselves on our 2000 Impala, and the handbar was not very secure, nor was it very close to the turn signal lever. This one is quite secure, and I don't have to take my hand off the bar to reach the turn signal lever! I also have a "suicide knob" on the steering wheel to aid in my steering the minivan, and it can be removed for somebody who doesn't need it. The hand controls do not need to be removed for Mrs PH to drive it, but she is forbidden from using them by law. The only thing that bothers her about this arrangement is that the minivan had adjustable pedals, and this feature is now disabled. It is harder for her to reach the pedals now, but she can manage. The mechanics made it quite clear that it was being done for me, but she has absolutely no problem with this arrangement, just as she knows that she can't use my Handicapped Veteran license plate to park in handicapped spaces unless I'm there in the vehicle. I know some would try to take advantage of that, but Mrs PH never has and never would...she's great about that!

 

But, all in all, she is completely trusting in my ability to handle the vehicle with hand controls, and her trust in that area is encouraging to me and very important in boosting my confidence in keeping her (or any passengers I have) safe in getting from Point A to Point B! I have driving in my blood (my father raced on dirt tracks before I was born), and that might make it easier for me to adapt...I'll do what it takes for me to be able to drive!

God forbid anybody else needing hand controls, but if anybody in my BGP Family or anybody near and dear to them should need them, I will do what I can to make it easier for them to learn about it/deal with it. I will be an encouraging influence to them!:thumb:

It was really fun getting out last night. It felt so great to be driven around for a night drive by PH once again. It almost felt like we were dating. To see everything that he has been through, then, seeing him drive last night was just a huge miracle!! And, you all have been through it all with us....that really does mean so much to us...it really does.

Next time go ahad and make it a date.

He will be getting his license today....he will then be driving legally. He has one, it just does not have the code on it....to use hand controls....it is already in the computer, just needs to go get his picture made!!!

Awesome news. How about a road trip to Ashland with the Mrs.? Dinner will be on Spindoc.

I got my driver's license today!!:banana::banana::banana:It was very satisfying too. They didn't know it, but we already knew the restrictions were already in the computer, and she was very snotty when she said, "We'll see!" When I was getting my photo made, again they didn't know it, but Mrs PH can read lips, and they were saying some rather uncomplimentary things, such as I should have been tied up by the Medical Evaluation Board for six months to one year!!:mad:However, there was nothing they could to me except choke on it and issue my new license! I could have gotten real nasty about it and taught several folks about the Americans with Disabilities Act, but I'm happy with OUR huge victory and knowing that some people might get their wrists slapped with a hard ruler over this...no sense in beating the dead horse and creating even harder feelings against us! I just hope that, someday, they'll realize that I did them a HUGE favor and thank me for not taking further action.

 

In the meantime, everybody on both sides of the family and some of my best friends locally are really twistin' now!!!:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa

My best friend is actually drooling over the prospect of me driving him around crankin' the Sirius Satellite Radio!:lol::lol:He has a Dodge Caravan that doesn't have Sirius, so he's really looking forward to it. Today was his birthday, and he said that he couldn't have gotten a better present than hearing that his best buddy got his license today!:thumb:

Awesome news. How about a road trip to Ashland with the Mrs.? Dinner will be on Spindoc.

 

Never been to Ashland...when the pressure sores finally heal up, I'll let you know!:thumb:

 

We are planning a very ambitious road trip to see the in-laws in WA State someday too!:eek::lol:

Please let your travels take you to Chicago. I will show you around. I am a very good tour guide. Wait a few months. It is much nicer here in the summer time.

 

Or, meet me in Stanford. I am there about every other weekend. I would like to catch up with the Purple Hazes.

Please let your travels take you to Chicago. I will show you around. I am a very good tour guide. Wait a few months. It is much nicer here in the summer time.

 

Or, meet me in Stanford. I am there about every other weekend. I would like to catch up with the Purple Hazes.

 

I can vouch for Mr.N--he is an excellent Chicago tour guide/greeting committee!

 

Glad you have your wheels back, PH!:dancingpa

Please let your travels take you to Chicago. I will show you around. I am a very good tour guide. Wait a few months. It is much nicer here in the summer time.

 

Or, meet me in Stanford. I am there about every other weekend. I would like to catch up with the Purple Hazes.

 

Sounds great! I could combine that with seeing some relatives in Danville [iL]...some of them used to work in Champaign at the university for years. They'd fall over if they knew I could come up there! Plus I've never been to Chicago before. That would be a great trip! But catching up with you in person, we'll take either Chicago or Stanford!

 

The minivan will be in our ownership for one year on 13 March and it has just over 2600 miles (yes, you read that right!) to now. We want to get an Optima Battery in it this week to combat the extra drain on the electrical system. We already had a K and N air filter in it for a little extra horsepower, a little better fuel efficiency, and very little maintenance (we don't need to clean it until we reach 50,500 miles on the van, and we will never have to buy another one!). At the next oil change, I'm thinking about switching from my beloved Valvoline to Royal Purple 5W-30...it is proven to add a little more horsepower and torque. With all of the added weight of the new equipment, I want all of the advantage and protection I can get!:lol:

 

Now, if I can just learn how to use that gps and store the memory buttons on the stereo for my Sirius stations...!:confused::lol: