This is Part XXVI of an ongoing series by Dorothea Nordstrand (1916-2011), who often wrote of her life in Seattle in the 1920s, 30s and beyond. Dorothea was a frequent contributor to Northwest Prime Time. Her essays also appear in http://www.historylink.org’s “People’s History Library.” Dorothea was given an award for contributing her vivid reminiscences to the community.I
In this reminiscence, Dorothea relates the story of how she learned to drive in 1936, just 36 years after the first auto arrived in Seattle in 1900.
I learned to drive a car in 1936 when I was in my early twenties. Back in those days, before Driver’s Ed, we learned to drive when someone had the courage to teach us. My teacher was friend Ernie, who bravely let me practice on his beloved little 1929 Model A Roadster, what we now would call a convertible. He really loved that car, washing and waxing its dark green body and tenderly tending the black tires. My first efforts were not confidence-building. Letting out the clutch at the exact same time as applying the gas was difficult. We kangaroo-hopped up and down hills in an alarming way. I got very discouraged. Then, one day, I hit the gas pedal instead of the brake and nearly put Ernie’s little gem into a ditch. I was ready to concede defeat, but not Ernie. He wouldn’t let me quit…