When I was a girl I used to be afraid of pretty much everything, as in EV-ERY-THING. Sharks in the bathtub? Check. Genie coming out of the toilet when I flushed it? Check. Dracula coming to bite my neck in the middle of the summer? Check. I still remember my mother wanting to open the windows because it was like, ya know, 90 degrees and we didn’t have air conditioning and I had my quilt up over my neck. I knew, though, from reading Dracula, that he could turn into a sort of vapor and come through my window screen.

The good news is there isn’t a whole lot I’m afraid of anymore. If we omit the obvious biggies like death, destruction, and destitution, and of course something awful happening to my children, I can count my fears on one hand, I think. Let’s see. Going to a party where I have to schmooze? Yes. Driving? Yes, driving.

I learned to drive at the late age of 27. I was a year younger than my classmates in high school and then as soon as I went to college, my parents moved to Manhatten and learning to drive there was not very tempting. Besides, I didn’t NEED to drive there.

I think I will always feel like a beginner driver, no matter how much I drive, and I drive a lot. I am fine driving in areas that I am familiar with. I have a block when it comes to venturing beyond “my” routes.

This, of course, has limited me tremendously. There are libraries, museums, and much more, out of reach for me, unless I go with my husband or friends. Taking public transportation takes hours to most places I want to go. So, after years of being afraid, I came up with a plan. I’d venture out on weekend mornings and try out a few routes when traffic was low.

So that’s what I did this morning! I drove into the big city on my own and it was okay. I can now pocket it as one of “my” routes. How very exciting.

I told Rachel this and asked, “Are you proud of me?” She high fived me but didn’t say anything. Instead, she ran upstairs. Then she came downstairs and handed me something. The gymnastics medal we got at the Fourth of July Parade.

God, I love that girl.

What are you scared of? What fears have you conquered?

And……are you proud of me?