37 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® The Un-Comfort Zone II by Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. Learning to Drive, Deal with Fear, and Trust I only had Dad for a short time, but he imbued me with the values to succeed. Dad stopped the car in the middle of the road and asked if I wanted to drive. “Really?” I answered in surprise. He replied, “Why not? We have this road to ourselves.” It was dawn, but the sun hadn’t risen yet. I was 13 years old, three years from being eligible for a driver’s license, and my Dad and I were going camping at a lake an hour north of Atlanta. We’d just turned off the state highway and were on the country road that would lead to the campground. I ran around the front of the car while Dad slid across the bench seat. I got behind the steering wheel and put my hands on it in the clock dial positions of 10 and 2. I then put the big Ford LTD station wagon in drive and pressed the gas pedal. It was my first time driving. As we drove, Dad gave me instructions on how to use the brake, turn signals, and headlight high beams. It didn’t take long before I felt comfortable and I was holding the car steady on the long, straight, narrow road penetrating a deep dark forest. I got the car up to about 40 miles per hour and Dad told me it was fast enough. Suddenly, a herd of nine deer ran across the road right in front of us. I slammed my foot against the brake pedal causing the back tires to skid and squeal while the right front tire went off the road onto the shoulder. The car came to a complete halt, and I didn’t hit any of the deer, but I was shaking in fear. Dad patted my shoulder and said, “You did good, but I guess we won’t be eating venison tonight; now you’ll definitely have to catch us some fish.” I didn’t laugh, I was still shaking. I put the car in park, saying I was done driving. He just told me to take a few deep breaths and sit there a few minutes until I calmed down to continue driving. I didn’t want to drive anymore, but he said that’s why I had to drive again right then. If I didn’t face my fear immediately, it would get worse and I may never be able to drive again. So he persuaded me to take a few more deep breaths, then start again real slow. He kept pushing until I finally put the car back into drive. I drove very slowly, about 15 miles per hour at first. I tested the brakes several times and kept both hands locked on the steering wheel. Eventually, I increased the speed, but probably never topped 30 miles per hour. He had taught me to face my fear. When I was 15, as Mom and Dad were heading out the door for a post Christmas vacation, Dad asked me how I was going to go to and from work. Since it was just two miles, I was going to ride my bike. Dad said, “Your shift ends after dark, and it’s cold outside; here take the car,” and tossed me a set of car keys. I caught them, but couldn’t believe he would let me drive alone when I wasn’t old enough. He reminded Wilson Cont’d on page 38.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk4Mzk=