There has been a lot in the news recently about raising the age at which young ones can obtain their driver's license.
I didn't get my license until I was 20 and married. I'm sure that really sounds strange to most young people because they can hardly wait to get theirs. However, most of them have their own cars and drive themselves to school and most other places they go.
When I got my license, it was very rare for a young person still at home with parents to have their own car. They had to ask for the family car and wait their turn to get it. This was even true of most college students.
When my oldest daughter, Pat, had her 15th birthday, we lived in Starkville.
Her dad taught her to drive when she was about 12 and let her drive sometimes when he was with her and they were on a country road. I learned many years after the fact that she once hit a mailbox.
He had promised her a car when she got her license, so she just couldn't wait another day after her birthday.
It was probably the next day that we went to the Highway Patrol Station for her to take the driving test. The other children, Pam and Lee, and a friend, Kelly, went with us.
When we got there, there were others ahead of us, so we had to wait for a while. Finally, when it was our turn and Pat gave the patrolman the form showing that she had taken driver's training in school, he gave it back to her and said both her parents had to sign. Her dad had not signed it.
So we left and went to the construction site where he was working and got his signature on the form. Then we headed back to the patrol station where we had to get back in line.
When our time came again and she and the patrolman were getting ready for the driving test, he discovered that one of the taillights on our car wasn't working.
So once again we left and went to the nearest station to get the taillight replaced, and then went back to the patrol station to get in line again.
This time she was able to take the test and passed with flying colors.
But when I pulled out a check to pay for her license, I was informed that they did not accept checks. Since I didn't have cash, Kelly stepped up and paid for the license.
Needless to say, Pat was a very happy girl.
I can't remember anything about Pam getting her license, although I know she got it as soon as she was old enough. I discussed it with her, and she thinks her dad of step-mother must have taken her.
I do remember, however, all about the youngest, Lee, getting his license. Just like the others, he could hardly wait after he had his 15th birthday.
I brought him to the patrol station here in Greenwood. We walked up to the window to ask where we were supposed to go and were ignored until I finally spoke up — no reflection on anyone working at the patrol station now as this was 20 years ago.
By that time, we were informed that the test room was full and we would have to come back the next day.
When we went back and he was able to take the driving test with the patrolman, he made an illegal turn and was told to go home and study his book and come back the next week.
There was just no way he was going to be able to wait another week, so we came up with another plan.
Pam was commuting to Delta State at the time, and my niece, Fay, lived in Cleveland. So Lee rode to Fay's house with Pam, and Fay took him to the Highway Patrol Station there to take the test so he could get his license.
I'm sure there are a lot of interesting stories out there on this subject, and I would venture to say that this is one of the most memorable events in a young person's life, right up there with finishing school and getting married.
- Ervilene Pruett is a long-time Delta resident and former Staplcotn employee.
