I love being a GRAndMa

I have 8 grandchildren, they range from 4 years to 21 years. With that much age difference I have lots of different experiences depending on which child I am with. 
This was really apparent yesterday when I went to Kiowa to pick up 3 of them to hang out with me in Nebraska for the weekend. 
It started with the four year old at the book fair where I bought a 3D dinosaur book for him. He was so easily satisfied, but the experience changed when on the way back to the car the 16 year old said. 


"Grandma, can I drive?"
"Well, you can if you have your contacts and if you are nice to my truck." 


"I do have my contacts,  and I love your truck." 
I breathed deeply and tell myself that staying calm is the best way to survive this situation. 
"I will let you drive to the rest stop." 
That would be about 40 miles, on the back roads. 


Sage climbed into my truck, adjusted the seat with some vigor, and grinned at me.
"Don't worry grandma, I know where I'm going." 


Riding with a 16 year old who only has his permit is like riding on a roller coaster without a seat belt. You don't know if you will live through it, and they don't seem to have a clue.
20 miles down the road....


"it's probably better to go slower on the dirt roads, don't you think? " 
"Oh no they don't scare me, I learned on the dirt roads." 
"Well that's good but slow down anyway ok?" 


He slows down to around 40.
"Sage keep your eyes open for the sign to Roggan." 
"Okay Grandma."  
Cruising down the road we pass the only sign we have seen for miles. 
I see RO out of the corner of my eye. 


"I think we just missed our turn." 
The boy comes to a screeching halt and without looking behind starts backing
 up. 
"Sage, you NEED to STOP, and look behind you."
I try hard to keep my voice level and calm. Thank goodness we are on a dirt road with no traffic around. He backs up, and makes an abrupt left turn and heads toward what I think is the upcoming rest stop. 
We are almost there I thought to myself, but when we get to the highway where the rest stop should be its not there. 


"Where is the rest stop?" 
"Oh its about 10 miles down the road. Can I drive on the highway?"
He veers onto I76... 
" I think they should have an autoban in the USA don't you?" 
"You think so? Well since we don't do you know what the speed limit is?


Long story short, he drove the highway for another 15 miles, and the scariest part was when he passed the semi's because he tends to veer to the right
naturally when driving. 


"Sage, Sage, stay left,stay left as you pass the truck.Please Pay attention." 
"It's good grandma, don't worry." 


Is he serious?
No Worries....as I'm praying my brains out.
  "Sage, we are here. Le'ts stop at Taco John's and I will take over." 
"Okay, I want to read my new book anyways." 


As he parks the car insanely close to the little white mustang to our right, I breathe again for the first time in a while, I'm pretty happy at that point, I'm going to get my truck back in one piece and he is going to read.  
If I had money I would pay someone to ride with him and teach him to drive:)