My Dad teaching me to drive and getting my driver's license was what I call a comedy of errors.
So I'm applying for my driving permit and Dad has me drive US1 to Bunnell. He said that it was quicker than the Daytona Office. So off we went first thing in the morning.
Dad had already told me that I needed to be up on my paralell parking, (it was required in those days). Of course at 16 I knew it all and said that I could do it. So the tester gets into the Ford, Crown Victoria and gives me the instructions to pull out of the parking spot and go directly to the paralell parking area. I thought I would fall out of the car, I was sure I could do some driving before hand. So I pull the car out of the space and drive over to the paralell parking area and pull up along the cone. To summarize I didn't pass, after 3 attempts to park. The only reason I didn't start crying was because I looked in the rear view mirror and saw my Dad bent double holding his knees laughing his butt off at me.
Dad always had a way of making me see the humor in failure or tragedy and to the end he was cracking jokes at the table when I would come for a visit. One of his favorite things to say was don't worry be happy, and enjoy your life, 'cause "I've never seen a hearse pulling a U-haul". In others words, you can't take what you have with you so enjoy what you have when you have it.
Bye Dad, I love you!!!