See this man driving the car? Do you notice a sort of smile on his face?

I have a confession to make... I've kind of always had a problem with backseat driving. Not the shouting, gesturing, breath intaking kind, but the twitching, staring, hyper-aware-of-everything, helpful kind.

The reason my boyfriend looks pretty happy is because, a few months back, I really understood how unhappy my backseat driving makes him. It wears him out. It makes him not want to drive as carefully. It makes him feel like I don't really trust him. It drives him crazy.

Yes... I had moderated myself and gotten my gestures down to mostly a small raising of the index finger to indicate danger, but he couldn't help but be hyper aware of what I was doing over there, to the point where I had to move really slowly if I wanted to scratch my nose or he'd think I was indicating immediate disaster! It wore me out too!

It was hard but I decided that I'd just CHANGE, and become about the same as a box of golfballs on his passenger seat instead of... well, what I was. Our maiden voyage was a couple months ago, when we went down to San Clememte. I took a big basket full of old magazines that needed to be gone through, and I studiously looked at lots of them, tearing out interesting recipes and paying no attention whatsoever to the road.

In my mind I kept reminding myself that, whenever David is out driving by himself, he always seems to make it. He's actually a good driver... he doesn't tailgate, doesn't speed... what more can I actually ask?

I've been continuing to keep up this new me, with a couple minor lapses, and it's going great!

This is how I ride now, if I don't have the basket of magazines with me. I stare out the side window, saying to myself, "What do I care?" Yes, it feels a little edgy... someone might get hurt, but I like it too, and David is eternally grateful and enjoying driving with me more. (Who took that picture! Maybe I SHOULD have been watching the road...)

A couple weekends ago we took it on the road again and headed up to the Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo. I love that place and we had a great time.

Everything is decorated for the season.

We drove the 12 miles over to Morro Bay and enjoyed the beautiful view of Morro Rock. It was kind of foggy and at one point I turned around and the rock was GONE! It was completely covered with fog. Then the fog blew away and it was back again.

I wanted to get a good picture of us, but I don't really like this one of me. David is cute, though. The other day in my office a new faculty member was looking at some pictures I have on my desk and seeing one of us, she asked if that was my PARENTS! Uhmmmm, no. I think I need a new picture in there, but I'm not sure it will be this one.

The Apple Farm is redecorating their rooms, slowly, and we got one of the redone ones, which was really nice. We hung around the room, slept in, and just relaxed.

I have more time than ever now, to look out the window and enjoy the view. I love all the vineyards in the Central Coast area. As we were coming back, we went through an area inland from Ventura that is all orange and avocado groves and I realize that I love that kind of place and could imagine living there! It dawned on me that it's because it feels like where I spent the first 12 years of my life! The kind of place David loves and could imagine living is the beach... and that's were he grew up. We'll probably just stay where we are... where our kids grew up.

Pretty, huh?

Last Saturday we did what we've wanted to do for... oh about 5 years... we visited Wayne and Patty Purcell. It was nice of them to carve out a whole day in their busy lives and of course we just had so much fun eating and talking! The men also enjoyed hitting golf balls and watching football on TV. We go way back and their three girls grew up with our three girls, so it's just really fun to reconnect.

"Old friends are like antiques... they grow more valuable through the years."

The drive to the Purcell's in Yucaipa was accomplished with my new "non interested" passenger skills. I can't say I'll be able to do this with everyone I ride with, but so far I'm doing well (David says) and I'm kind of enjoying the feeling of entrusting myself to God and David! It feels a little risky and daring and I think it's a good thing!