I could have sworn giant magnets were planted in the ditches of the gravel roads in Kossuth County. Something had to be pulling my dad’s car off the road. At least that is what went through the imaginative mind of this 12-year-old boy when my father was teaching me how to drive.

I remember keeping both of my hands gripped tightly on the steering wheel, and Dad, from the passenger seat, often had one of his there, too. Someone had to keep the car on the road, and I wasn’t doing a very good job.

I was a little guy back then. About 5 foot tall and not even 90 pounds. The driver seat was pushed as far as it could go, and so was Dad’s patience. He couldn’t understand how I could keep steering the car toward the ditch. Me neither. But, after an hour or so, I got the hang of it. Dad probably needed a few aspirin — or a stiff drink. He was determined to teach me how to drive, and, eventually, he did.

Many of my rural friends learned how to drive on the farm in tractors and pickups. My friends in the city say they were first behind the wheel in large parking lots. Michael Gartner told me he taught his kids how to drive in cemeteries. “They can’t kill anybody there,” he quipped.

Many of today’s kids have never driven a car until they earn their learner’s permit at age 14, and they don’t seem to be in a big hurry then. By the law, that’s the right thing to do. By common sense, it is not. The last place I wanted to be was in the passenger seat when my daughters drove for the first time while meeting oncoming traffic. So we practiced in parking lots, too. And once we got on the road, to be fair, I don’t recall being nervous about hitting approaching vehicles. My daughters didn’t get anywhere near the center line. I do recall being nervous about hitting road signs and curbs, though, and we may have skimmed a few.

Prior to teaching my daughters how to drive, if you would have told me that I could completely straighten out my body like an ironing board while in the passenger seat of a car, I would have said you were crazy. Well, you are not crazy, as it happened to me frequently while driving with my kids. I suddenly realized how Dad must have felt with me on those gravel roads, and I tried to remember how patient he was. For what it’s worth, I still think the ditches have giant magnets.

How about you? What are your memories of learning how to drive a car? Shoot me a note and let me know.

Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

See Shane Goodman's previous columns here.

FEATURE STORY
Summer Arts & Entertainment Guide

By Cyote Williams

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming — and the cicadas are coming. But that won’t stop us, and it shouldn’t stop you, from enjoying the seemingly endless entertainment that graces central Iowa during its warmest months. Artwork from the world-renowned to the area’s brightest up and coming talents. From Broadway shows to community theaters. Symphonies to singers. Cracks of the bat to thoroughbreds and racecars rounding curves. CITYVIEW’s events section details the best community celebrations, farmers markets, skillet throws and conventions for most every interest. We have it here in one place to help you make summer 2024 unforgettable.

[...]

Competing for time
Residents share how relationships are the “win” in sporting together.

By Ashley Rullestad

Mary White has been passionate about health and fitness since her youngest child was 6 months old. Both her kids — Addison, 18, and Parker, 15 — have been attending the gym since they were in baby carriers. When White’s job moved the family to Missouri, the group fitness that she had been doing in Iowa wasn’t available, but CrossFit was huge there.

CrossFit is a fitness program that produces measurable outcomes through lifestyle changes, centered on training and nutrition. Workouts consist of constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movements.

“I joined my first gym, and, after about six months, my husband, Tim, joined as well,” White says. “When my kids got older at different points, they also become interested.”

[...]

The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 4 cents, averaging $3.24 across Iowa according to AAA. Prices are down 9 cents from a year ago. The national average on Wednesday was $3.61, down 3 cents from last week’s price.

Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 3 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.66. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.78 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 28 cents lower than the national average of $3.94.

Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.

Natural gas prices rose 18 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.39/MMbtu.

Happy Birthday Ben Butzke!

These celebrities were born on this date: Dan Coats, Danny Trejo, Bill Smitrovich, Debra Winger, Olga Korbut, Megan Fox, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Janet Jackson, Pierce Brosnan, Gracie Kramer, Krist Novoselic, Tori Spelling

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

What did Miss Piggy say when asked on a date? Sorry, I'm already KERMIT-TED! (Or some such variation!) - Mike Chiston, Gail Tomlinson. Other answers: William Snyder, Rex Pos, Carolyn Rogers..

Today's riddle

What do you get if you cross a snake and a frog?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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