Rainbow
Thursday, August 5th, 201024 of July 2010. I did not quite get a good sleep last night because of two reasons. One, it was pouring so hard that you could hear the wind blowing against the glass windows, with all the lightning and the loud thunder. And two, I was too uneasy knowing that when I wake up the next morning, I’ll be taking the road test.
It’s been raining since yesterday afternoon but the temperature is still as hot as the summer heat. Actually, it is still summer. The State of IL has four seasons; and it’s just about a month since it officially turned summer. Unlike in Pinas, where summer means scant of rain; it’s totally different here. Summer means hot weather, regardless of whether it rains or not. Anyway, during the summer season, there are high chances of tornado formation. The people are more on the ball because some tornadoes may come without a warning… Or if it does, it’s already too late. So, this kind of weather really shouldn’t be underestimated.
I woke up at 6:30 am. It was still pouring outside. I turned the TV on and switched to TFC. That’s our morning indulgence. Wowowee. Oh crap! I thought to myself… I was expecting that Showtime is already on at this hour. Well, I thought maybe Wowowee extended their hour of showing and there’s nothing I could do but wait for that it to end. I glanced at the wall clock from time to time; glanced at the light coming in from the window and started thinking again. Why has the sun not come out yet? If Showtime starts at 6:20 am, Wowowee has extended from it’s usual time slot, and the clock’s moving, then why is it still dark outside? I know it’s raining but… Holy crap!!! I was wrong! I thought I woke up at 6:30am, but NO… I woke up an hour earlier! what was wrong with my eyes?! Aaarrghhh! Now I can’t go back to sleep! I’ve wasted my time then watching that super lame show…
And so it was 6:30am..the real one, that is. Made coffee for hubby and me, then took a nice warm bath. My husband was so anxious that we won’t get at DMV office on time. He’s always like that! When it involves me, he’s always anxious and he stresses me out! Haha! I said, “Please!!! It’s only 7:30, DMV won’t open until 8am, pano tayo male-late?!!” And oh yeah, I was right. 8am DMV opens, people gathered inside and were already forming lines.
And so my name was called. I had a lady rater. Her name’s Anna. She’s pretty and it seemed to me that she’s of Mexican-African descent. She spoke Spanish. We went out and walked to the car. She checked my signal lights, headlights, and break lights. I fixed my seat, rear view mirror, and side mirrors. She asked me to back up and start running. It was still sprinkling that morning. The wind was a bit cold. My hands are also a bit shaky. I was nervous, who wouldn’t? Speed limits are way different here. She asked me to turn right at the first traffic light. The road I turned to was having some repairs. The rater instructed me to change lanes because we were coming into a one lane roadway. I checked my left blind spot and there was a car. I signaled left and good thing the car slowed down for me. I quickly changed lanes so he won’t fall short. I panicked for a second there because I was running 35mph. I went on and saw a 30mph sign ahead. Woah! That quick! I had to ease up on the gas pedal to slow down, 5mph less. She then instructed me to turn right at the next corner; asked me to park at the road side going uphill; stopped at 4 stop signs; turned left and went on, speed limits changing at an instant; drove down a school zone at 20mph speed that felt like driving a funeral car; after the school zone, I speeded up again following the sign boards to 25mph -> 30mph. And there I encountered an uphill roadway again. My car slowed down! And Anna said, “you have to keep up to the speed limit”. I should be running 30 but when I checked my speedometer, lo and behold I was at 25mph! Oh shoot! Press on the gas, stupid! Argh! So I kept driving… I was asked to turn left at the alley after a church, stop after the walkway, then back up and drive straight past another stop sign. I stopped at the next stop sign, went on again, turned right and voila! The sign said 40mph. Then she asked me to turn right at the next traffic light. I stopped the car on a red light; checked my mirrors and saw a build up of 4 or 5 cars behind me. And then Anna said I can proceed right when it’s safe. The speed limit was 5mph faster on the next highway. Woooh! I was lucky to be driving on a wet road because very few cars were passing. I was asked to turn right on the next traffic light and we’re back at the DMV office. I was still shaking. I parked the car a few feet from the front of the building. Anna said, “You did wonderful!” I replied, “I don’t know… I just… Oh.. I don’t really know…” I didn’t know what to say… I had a feeling that I wouldn’t make it. But Anna was smiling at me; a very beautiful smile, as beautiful as her face. “You passed!” I was astonished! The only word that came out of my mouth was, “Seriously?!!!” “Yeah! You were able to keep up to the speed limit and that’s what’s important” With ice cold trembling hands, I shook her hand; I was grateful! We got out of the car and was still talking. I saw my husband in front of the DMV office, patiently waiting for me. He was looking at us as we approached the entrance door. He was thinking that I failed just as he did the first time he took the driving exam. But he heard the majic words from Anna, “Let’s go inside so they can take a photo of you…”
Well, as the goes, there’s a rainbow always after the rain….
