Scubie and Converse

When I got my permit at 17 I was so excited to drive.  I drove my mom’s automatic a few times and
felt like something was missing.  I sat
down with my dad one day and he asked me what I wanted my first car to be.  Now before you go saying that I was spoiled
there’s a reason why my dad felt he needed to buy my first car.  When I was younger my Grandpa was the light
of my life and whenever him and my Grandma would come over for dinner it
seriously made my day.  He was my
favorite out of the two (sorry Grandma). 
He would secretly give me pieces of gum (Doublemint to be exact) because
my parents didn’t allow me to have it so he would slip me little pieces here
and there.  He had this specific smell
that I loved, and I will never forget that smell.  Before he passed away he promised me something.  Since him, my Grandma, Dad, and Mom came to
America a few years before I was born he made it a point to learn about the American
culture because this was the country he wanted to reside in until his final
days and he wanted to retire in the great state of Texas (which I didn’t know
until a few days before I moved there for a few months).  He obviously didn’t make it to be able to
retire in Texas and my Grandma ended up moving back to Poland, but before he
passed he sat me down and promised me that since he knew in the American
culture 16 is a huge year and that it’s called a Sweet 16, he would purchase my
first car for me.  I could pick whatever
car I wanted.  My Grandpa was my dad’s
dad.  Hence why my dad felt that he
needed to carry out that promise my Grandfather made me many years before, even
though I honestly was not expecting it.

I chose a 2004 Jetta TDI 5 speed. 

I came home one day from a friend’s house and saw a brand
new 2004 Jetta TDI sitting in the driveway and let’s just say I may or may not
have screamed out of excitement.  It was
the best surprise EVER!  Then, my dad
started teaching me how to drive stick. 
I cried MANY times because for whatever reason the whole concept just
was not clicking in my head.  I stalled
so many times and was so mad at myself and I was even more upset because I
could see how frustrated my dad was.  So
one day he got out of my car and said he’s done with teaching me, he’s going to
have to get me an automatic.  Well, let’s
just say I REFUSED to drive an automatic. 
My dad got out of the car and I wiped the tears from my eyes and said I
HAVE to learn.  Needless to say, I put my
car in first gear and FINALLY got the concept.  It was an extremely happy moment for my dad
and me.

My driving shoes were always converse.  I learned how to drive with converse, I took
my driver’s test with converse, and every time I’ve gotten a new car or had to
test drive one I needed to do it in my converse.  This is probably why I have such an
obsession!When you drive stick you have to be comfortable and adjusting to a
new clutch is always the worst part for me. 
My new car has hill assist and it drives me nuts because I don’t roll
back so I don’t know when the clutch is catching, so annoying!  Eventually I’m able to drive in all of my
other shoes but I have to get adjusted to the new clutch.  I’m not sure if it’s just me or everyone
else, but there’s just something about your favorite pair of driving shoes that
helps you drive better.