It's weird. Now that I have my license and can drive myself anywhere I want to, I seem to have developed a fear of driving alone. I have an appointment on the 11th, and I'm sure I'll be expected to drive myself, since the point of getting my license was so people wouldn't have to take me.

I was supposed to go grocery shopping by myself, for a few staple items. Then I essentially started having a panic attack. I might have worked up the courage, but my daughter didn't want to wait and see, so she went instead, even though she isn't feeling well today. Hubby just called from work, right before I started this post, and when I told him I had a panic attack about driving, he said, "Yeah, don't do that." I asked him what he meant. Don't have a panic attack while I'm driving, or don't drive while I'm having a panic attack? He answered, both. I guess I did the right thing then.

So I ended up making two laps around the neighborhood, to build up courage for driving myself to that appointment. Sure enough, for a small stretch there was this one guy riding my bumper and honking because I was slow and hesitant. I know people do a lot of griping about how they hate slow drivers, but I can't help it. I'm new at this. AND it's raining.

After I got back home, I went online and double checked the speed limit on that road where I was being honked at and tailgated for about a block. Sure enough, although I was a little pokey coming off of a stop sign, I was doing the speed limit which happens to be pretty slow around here. The guy riding my (ahem) basically wanted me to move out of the way so he could speed. I did pull over and give him room to pass. If he wants to speed in the rain, that's on him. But it got me thinking of various "pet peeve" threads I've seen, including here, where people cite slow drivers as one of their biggest angry-makers.

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm afraid I'm going to be a slow driver, at least until I gain more experience. As a passenger, I've heard many a driver complain, and I've seen the sentiment expressed in online forums: "If those doggone slowpokes don't know how to drive, they should just get off the road." Well, if I should just get off the road, how am I going to improve?

According to my driving instructor, that bit about going too slow being just as dangerous as going too fast, applies to the freeway, not to residential areas. And you can bet your sweet asphalt (second time in these forums I've used that line; I kind of like it) I'm going to stay off the freeway until I'm more confident. I'm sticking to neighborhood roads. But apparently I can still be tailgated and honked at where the speed limit is 25, even though that's exactly the speed I'm doing.

I've never heard a baby yelled at while learning to walk. Nobody complains that the baby is too slow, and "if you can't walk, just sit down and get out of my way." If only new drivers were afforded the same patience.