For me, the ultimate practice of my freedom is when I would be driving myself to wherever I need to go. I got my first driver's license when I was 18, and have been learning to drive since I was 16. The first time I was allowed to drive out on my own, I got my own second hand car. Anxious as I was, I decided to bring it to school two days after practicing alone. It was quite the bumpy ride, as I'd hit the brakes hard, sending my passengers to sudden jolts. The first time, I had to drive from QC to Manila and back in the midst of rush hour traffic. Still bumpy, and the engine would throttle and die on inclined roads.
I started out as any amateur driver would and incurred my fair share of automobile mishaps. I was just a little better off than most because we owned a talyer and so it wasn't such a big deal if I'd get scratches and dents. It was a lucky thing that I never had a serious accident with my car during my amateur days. That’s because I wouldn’t want to ruin it big time, not to mention endangering the lives of my helpless passengers. But I did crash my headlights on a jeepney’s rear and broke my muffler down on a post in a parking lot. I guess you could say I had more than ample room for all the amateur mistakes.
Now, I've been a licensed driver for almost 6 years and I could say with much confidence that I'm one heck of a good driver. It's weird, but hearing some of my guy friends (not my current boyfriend Peter who is so nerbyoso, so I’m tamad to drive for him) alludes to my driving as "hayop, tarantado," made me smile oh-so-smugly inside. How I love to drive! My desire to become skilled at it came from the heart. There is a weirdly exquisite high that comes with realizing that there is at least this one aspect in my existence that I can actually commandeer. I realize, too, that my best and deepest (sometimes wildest) thoughts, ideas, and realizations come to me when I'd be driving. It seems as if driving sends me to this serene trance-like state. Yeah, it's so hypnotic sometimes, that I remember causing a couple of accidents behind me. *giggles* I'd get so lost in my reverie, that twice, I think, it happened that I noticed the car I'm tailing has stopped. I, of course, would slam on the brakes hard, causing a domino effect on the other cars tailing me. Hey, if I escaped the accident and you didn't, then you're simply not a good driver as I am, I'd always reckon as I innocently drive away from the accident site.
My love story with Peter started out when he helped me park my shit. I was so embarrassed to realize that he’s seen how terrible I was. After that, I promptly practiced my reverse parking skills where I was so bad at.
When my car got severely smashed by a friend of mine, it hardly stunted this romance with the road of mine. Instead, I would look back on it as a night of magic than mayhem, of reconciliation than wreck. A former love had come to my aid and brought back the more beautiful feelings of the love we once shared. More importantly now, he came with forgiveness. Accident, nothing! Think: serendipity. Another lovely night to remember.
Driving to actually get somewhere is second only to the glorious feeling of refuge.. of invincibility.. of standing up for something I so firmly believe in. Nobody can hold me back and down to some place I no longer want to be in..