Well wonder of wonders, Kyle is now quite proficient with the transmission on the Jetta. He drove us to the mall the other day and was as natural as you please. I'm glad it worked out. It's a far cry from the last time he drove me to the mall...
He'd had the car for a couple of weeks and was driving himself to work (which is an easy drive from home) but hadn't really ventured out that much. So we are getting off the highway on the exit for the mall and he lets out a "Oh Great!" I'm thinking that something is falling off the car but he points to the traffic that is backed up on the ramp. I say "No big deal. A little traffic." He says "No, look" and points to the line of cars stopped all the way up the access road to the mall. "Yeah, some cars...Oh." It was then that I realized what he was fearing. The access road to the mall is a long sweeping *uphill* and given the phalanx of cars, it would be a stop and go, clutch slipping, extravaganza getting to the top. Of course, the guy behind him is trying to get to the top before him by somehow passing through Kyles car - which doesn't help. I've got my hand on the emergency brake to try and prevent a systems meltdown induced roll into our friend behind us. About half way up the hill, Kyle is about to pass out from hyperventilating but he's doing fine. At the top, there is utter gridlock which gives him a chance to calm down. I think this was a turning point for him whether he knows it or not. He made it through a terrifying/trying experience and lived to tell about it.
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