He’s scribbling in his clipboard.

One turn and already I’ve given him something to write about! I’m doomed!

The test ends. The inspector tells me I have a tendency to overthink and panic.

Duh!

He tells me I’ve passed.

I passed! I can drive into town anytime I please! To see a certain wonderful woman!

I refrain from hugging the inspector.

Inside the DMV, a certain wonderful woman is waiting. We make eye contact. I hesitate, then break out into an end zone dance. Oh happy day!

History lesson: Howard Hughes was an aviation pioneer, movie producer, inventor, entrepreneur, and ladies man. But, in the prime of life, he became reduced to nothing at the prospect of simply going out the door. He couldn’t do it. He never overcame it.

The prospect of driving was one of those things that reduced me to nothing. Until a very short while ago, I never wanted to talk about it. Now I can joke about it.