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Dusty Gilbert

Lifestyles Editor for BizRadio Network & Editor for skirt! Houston

Dusty Gilbert is an International Studies Graduate from the University of St. Thomas. With professional experience in print publications, the non-profit sector, website development, and the real estate industry, she is currently a writer, a local columnist, Editor of skirt! Houston Online and the...

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Dancing in the Street

Dusty Gilbert

If you haven’t seen me, I know you have seen someone like me; “street dancers” as someone recently called our kind. No, this is not a risqué term, but rather a description of my inability to drive my new car.

Last Friday, after a long commute in the parking lot of Houston afternoon traffic, I realized that, after 5 years of trusty service, my horse and carriage of Honda styling had seen better days. Talking about buying a new car for well over a year, I am unlike the typical man in regards to the details. Make, model, horse power and v-whatever engines just are not my cup of tea. Rather, the characteristic of my affection was only a disappearing top. Mike, the more reasonable half in our relationship and possessor of  a seemingly infinite knowledge of cars, had already done his due diligence (many months ago) and selected the perfect “Cali” convertible for me. Finally, on Saturday, I decided it was finally time to take a look. I admittedly can’t tell one car from another for the most part, but it was love at first sight, whatever you call it!

Personally enchanted with the sparkle of the paint as well as the enticing and exotic gauges, before I knew it, the purchase had been made! After completing the paperwork, it dawned on me that I REALLY had never driven a manual car. Don’t get me wrong we tried it out before taking the dive. Riding in the passenger seat, I sported a perma-grin and tornado hair in the breeze as Mike test sped from the lot, down some side streets and onto Richmond Avenue. But, upon leaving the dealership, my “after-purchase” monologue was something like, “Fun, fun, fun…. Wait, I can’t drive it and 36 hours until work… Uh oh!”

Long story short, after a Sunday full of frustrating lessons, I took it to work on Monday and even to an appointment downtown. My first solo mission was horrible and Tuesday was even worse.

Go. Stall. Go. Stall. Go. Stall. Go. Stall. Go. Stall. Go. Stall. Go. Stall. Oops, strange noise….

So, here I am finishing up Wednesday, proud that I only had 3 “duh” moments, especially in light of the fact that I drove clear across the city three times.

Well,  why had I never learned to drive a stick-shift before? I guess I just believed that I was born too uncoordinated to be successful… Goes to show you… you shouldn’t assume the limits of anything in life, especially your own capabilities.

P.S. For those patient Houstonians who were momentarily delayed by my learning curve, thank you!