As a direct result of my long deceased father's incessant ordering-I took a combination classroom/on the roads driver's education course-in my sophomore year of high school in Urbandale, Iowa-from age 16 years and 5 months-in August of 1981 until I was 16 years/10 months-in January of 1982-when-after having passed both the written AND "on the road" driver's tests-and a small paid fee-I received my Iowa driver's license.
Ironically-after all of that incessant ordering from my perpetually angry, psychologically anal retentive father-he REFUSED to let me drive EITHER of the two family cars during my remaining time living with a several member emotionally dysfunctional family.
After I moved BACK to Houston, Texas in June of 1982-at the age of 17-via surrendering my never used IOWA driver's license-and taking a written list-I received a TEXAS driver's license. I drove frequently from September of 1982 until November of 1983.
This story is getting a little LONG-isn't it?
Anyway-when my mother and I moved from Houston, Texas to Pleasanton, California (about 30 miles east of San Francisco)-I legally acquired a CALIFORNIA driver's license.
I didn't drive much though-only to "run" errands such as grocery shopping and taking our two dogs-one male/one female-to and from the veterinarian's medical office/facility.
As I had done frequently in Houston, Texas from Monday morning, January 7'th, 1985 until Friday evening, March 24'th, 1989-from ages 20 to 24-I rode the buses to various places.
I did the same in the San Francisco Bay Area from April, 1989 until July, 1996-from ages 24 to 31.
Additionally-I rode the BART-Bay Area Regional Transit-commuter trains-on an infrequent basis.
More IOWA bus riding stories to come.
