Glenna Stearman Park, New Drivers and Car Envy

 

 

Driving back and forth over dirt roads on Sunday afternoon with my Dad supervising started when I was 13.  Mom and Dad were worn out from driving older siblings back and forth to schools, practices, and parties.  They were determined that I would drive myself and my younger sister.  So I started early, and finally had a legal driver’s permit at 15.  I could drive from home to school and back.  Eventually, I cheated and drove circles to friends’ homes on the way home from school and then to Friday night movies at the Crest, the Uptown, and Boulevard theaters. as well as to games and Hangar nights.

 

My car was the older family car, a ’57 dark green Kaiser Manhattan, 4 door, with a beige bamboo vinyl top. Kaiser was a not a common  teenage vehicle. I don’t think anyone else had a car like that, but I got over it.  

 

I envied Susie Smith’s dark yellow,  ’49 Ford convertible.  I rode with her a lot. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debbie Snyder’s dad bought her a light blue Buick convertible (below), which we all piled into while Debbie (at left) was practicing her driving.  She was a nervous driver, and I am sure five squealing passengers did not help.  Debbie was approaching the red light at Hillside and Central.  We were going west. A cop pulled her over for changing lanes without signaling.  He laughed a bit and told Debbie to be careful.  No ticket.  We all laughed and told the officer about how she was a nervous driver and we were there to help.  He went back to his car.  Debbie then signaled left and stopped in the left turn lane, but realizing that she actually wanted to turn right, she immediately surprised other drivers by turning right in front of them!  The policeman saw her and just shook his head.  Debbie pulled over to calm down.  We all laughed so hard we cried. We gave her a rough time for her anxiety, and surely made it worse.  Debbie did not volunteer to drive us around very often.

 

 

My Kaiser caught fire one Friday night in Jane Darrah’s driveway.  We had trouble putting the fire out, but finally had a heap of scorched and melted wiring on the engine.  Dad came after me and we pushed the car out of the driveway so he could tow it home Saturday morning.  There was always a spare old car around, so I drove a big white Ford  Fairlane (left) when I really wanted a sports car.  Sometimes I even drove my dad’s truck, but nothing matched Susie’s ’49 yellow Ford convertible.

 

My very first date with a boy driving the car was with Jim Davidson (at right).  He had invited me to a New Year’s Eve party.  He picked me up early because the party was at his house.  When Jim took me to the car, his dad was sitting in the middle. Because Jim was on a learner’s permit, the licensed driver had to sit next to the learner-driver.  At least I didn’t have to sit in the back seat! Nevertheless, Jim’s father was cheerful and charming company. Jim was a good driver and was legally licensed on our later dates.