Who’s Gonna Drive You Home?

A long standing driving arrangement that is really an act of love and service

I used to live within walking distance of my neighborhood grocery store. We only had one car, so everyday I’d buckle my child into our umbrella stroller¹ and walk to the store for the day’s food. It was fabulous and I truly miss the simplicity of just walking right out my door and to the store, no fiddling with car seats, parking spaces, or shopping carts; grabbing only what I could carry and walking home. I loved walking in the fresh air and observing all the splendors and curiosities of nature along the way.

If I needed to travel farther or faster than my feet could carry me, I’d drive my husband to work so I could have the car. Actually, that’s not technically accurate—he’d drive us to his work, get out, and I’d hop over and drive off, repeating the process in reverse at the end of his work day.

It’s always been this way. He drives, I ride. I asked him to drive me home one time (before he was even mine!) and he’s been driving me ever since. It’s true that I do tend to be more of an overly cautious type of driver, but I believe that this long standing driving arrangement between us is less of an observation of my driving skills and more of an act of love for the observer in me.²

Honestly, he does lovingly cherish the observer part of me and is amazed at the strange, random, and detailed things I remember. He doesn’t mind when I do things like stop a movie we’re watching to make a comment on how the light is falling so beautifully across an actor’s face or how a scene reminds me of a painting I once saw and—oh wait—I have to look the painting up for you so you can see, too.

I am amazed that he remembers things like street names, phone numbers, and what all the buttons in our car do. I have no idea what half those buttons do or how they’re supposed to make my life easier. I am not technologically intuitive, and I describe locations based on landmarks, defining features, and hand motions. He always knows what I’m talking about, though.

Riding along in the passenger seat of our car, I’m free to be distracted by the splendors and curiosities of nature. But best of all, the handsome profile of my chauffeur makes me glad to be alive and— even better— he is paused in place and I can admire the way the light is falling so beautifully through the windshield and across his face.

Ghosts of Who We Used to Be… a painting inspired by a photo of our shadows on our honeymoon and something hauntingly beautiful that my husband said to me.

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Today the kids and I will be learning about Jasper Johns, Norman Rockwell, and Georgia O’Keefe; all three by their request. I’m looking forward to it and I’m also trying to figure out what worked this year and the best way to continue our class through the summer and into next year. Perhaps we’ll focus on architecture or a favorite art movement. Hopefully we’ll get back to some still life practice today, but things (and people) always get a little squirrelly at the end of the school year.

Thank you for being here and checking out my scribbled thoughts and drawings. I truly appreciate all of you very kind and encouraging folks who take the time to look and I hope it brings something beautiful to your day. All the sketches are hand drawn by me in ink from observing objects in life….except the drawing with two cars has some watercolor!

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I posted a painting in the middle of becoming last week, here is the conclusion of that:

I think I will name it Seeking Endymion, after the Greek myth about the Goddess Selene who fell in love with a man named Endymion. The moon looks like it’s peeking down, parting the clouds, looking…

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Bonus conversation I had driving my kids around the other day:

Kid: Mom, how do you remember to use your turn signal?

Me: Well, it’s just become habit, I’ve done it so much.

Kid: Don’t you ever forget?

Me, distracted: No, not really, but, I guess maybe occasionally I might. That happens to people sometimes.

Kid: But how do you remember, it seems so hard to do it everytime!

A pause while I check my speed and mirrors and try to think of one sure, reliable habit they have…

Me: Ok, it’s like this…. Do you ever forget to shut the door when you are in the bathroom?

***Peals of laughter and a big NO in unison from the kids***

Me: It’s that kind of a habit, I guess.

Have a great weekend, and thank you again!

1. I still use the same stroller for my youngest, it’s been through three kids and many, many miles and still hanging in there.

2. He is a better driver than me. Unflappable in a crisis, good at anticipating other drivers, a cool head, and quick reflexes and reactions. Always knows where he is going and the best way to get there.