The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A DRIVING LESSON

WHEN I WAS ABOUT 13 OR 14, I TRIED TO TEACH MY GRANDFATHER
HOW TO DRIVE. PRIOR TO THIS, MY GRANDFATHER WAS
ACQUAINTED ONLY WITH DRIVING A HORSE AND BUGGY. WE
STARTED OUT IN MY FATHER'S T MODEL FORD AFTER GRANDPA
HAD LEARNED HOW TO GET IT STARTED. EVERYTHING WAS
GOING WELL, UNTIL GRANDPA MISSED A TURN AND HEADED
FOR A HOUSE. HE JUMPED A DITCH, PLOWED THROUGH A
FENCE AND TORE UP A FLOWER BED WHERE THE SOFT DIRT
STALLED THE CAR. ALL THE TIME THE CAR WAS RUNNING
AMOCK, GRANDPA HAD HIS FEET PLANTED ON THE FLOOR
PULLING BACK ON THE STEERING WHEEL YELLING, "WHOA,
DAMNIT, WHOA." THIS EVENT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO
INFORMANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 08-10-1964