Monday, April 19, 2010

WARNING...DANGER

NEW TEENAGE DRIVER ON DAH' ROAD!


Yup, it's happened. My sixteen year old got his driver's license.

Granted, this photo is eight months old, taken when he got his permit & his car. Now, he's four inches taller, trying desperately to put on weight but looking as lanky as ever. Wish we all had that problem, eh?

Ever read a book and you had a predictable idea of what was coming for the character just to be sideswiped by a surprise? Of course you have. Well that's what happened to my son (the character I'm using today to jump-start Monster Monday), on his first visit to take his driver's exam.

The sideswipe to this character was subtle. There was no accident during the exam, no foolish mistake. It was the subtleness of the disturbance that made the huge impact, changing the character's course and most importantly his inner growth. 

HE NEVER GOT TO STEP FOOT IN HIS CAR TO TAKE THE ROAD TEST. THE EXAMINER FAILED HIM DURING THE EYE EXAM. 

Major Bummer, yeah I know.

The disturbance came out of left field. The character never expected it, and let me tell you he showed it. (I'm surprised the door to the building where the examination was being held is still on the hinges.) If he'd have passed or failed while driving, what would the character have learned? The subtle disturbance took this character on an inner journey, having to grow in tolerance and understanding.

The character had to search himself and grow even more in maturity when he paid a visit to the eye doctor who declared his eyes...fine. Ah-huh...fine. Needless to say, he was given an apology that the machine measuring his eyesight miscalculated. YOU THINK?? The character was then rewarded by an immediate date to take his road test which resulted in getting his license. 

Write a few lines about one of your current characters that's totally out of left field, something even you'd never expect. Give it a try. 

Or do you already have an example? Have you thought of one from a favorite book?


12 comments:

  1. Ha, great post. I'm still in shock my 17 year old got his license. That totally took me out of character. LOL.

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  2. Oh man, I need a good example. Oh well. My son gets his permit in a couple of months. I'm totally scared! =)

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  3. Great writing exercise, I will definitely use it. Thanks!

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  4. Tell him not to feel bad! I failed the driver's exam, too--although, admittedly, it was because I was a crappy driver, not because of my eyes...

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  5. Carolyn, don't be scared. It's actually working out rather nicely. He got his license and three hours later he was picking up my daughter at dance...FOR ME!! Sweet! AND he didn't even complain.

    Beth, I'll tell him. I failed my first time too, although it wasn't crappy driving or bad eyesight; apparently I didn't know how to follow the speed limit. Oops.

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  6. Whoa! Awesome post, Sheri - I'm going to have to give this exercise some thought. Seriously. :-)

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  7. SHERI - I'm still in shock that I got MY license. I hadn't had enough lessons when my test date came through but somehow managed to fake my abilities...

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  8. OMGosh Ann Marie, you are too funny!!

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  9. i love the way you set up this post!! so funny and yet so helpful! thanks for your thoughts -- and best of luck to you (and your son!) with everything!! :D

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  10. Hey, I'm new to your blog. Bummer about the eye exam! And great writing exercise, good food for thought!

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  11. My son failed the eye test when he went to get his permit to start drivers ed, even though he thought he could see just fine. The machine was right, though, and we had to go to one of those walk-in eye places to get him contacts so he could start the class on time. All my kids have their license now, and it's wonderful not to have to drive them everywhere--but stressful wondering where they are.

    Interesting post. I'll give that writing exercise a try.

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  12. Uh, Carol, that must have sucked. Glad he did get it, though. And you are right about thinking where they are now. That's the one ingredient that's tough. Thanks for the comment. ";-)

    Lydia, I'm so glad you've visited. Thanks.

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