When I was in my 5th year in college, the year was 2005; my dad bought a second car. It was not specifically for me but I was the only one besides him in the household who can drive so I was given the permission to use it. So use it - I did.

The very first parking attempt to our super small and uphill garage, I crashed the car, badly I must say that we needed to have it repaired.

On the first week of using the car, I managed to - of all places in the basement parking - park in  a low clearance space and scratched dented the roof.

I have also backed into a car that was parked. It was actually a super small scratch to an already old car. The scratch was barely visible, I would have ran away but my friends were all there with me and because I have a good heart (and because the guard saw what happened) we waited for the owner to arrive. After some talking, pleading, and a heated argument with my dad & the owner’s of the car, let’s just say that set me back about Php2,000.

Then at one point, Josh and I - got robbed (knife pointing at me in broad daylight) while getting off the car in a squatters area because it overheated (not really my fault but still….) I lost my phone and jewelry. So after that I stopped driving. What’s the point? I can always get a cab. It has been 3 years since I last driven a car, and up until J decided to work abroad, did not think I’ll drive again.

They say driving is like biking, its a skill once you’ve learned it you cannot unlearn it anymore. But did I really learn how to drive? Sure I know the basics of driving a stick gear but parking is part of driving AND that my friends, is something I really have difficulty in. Sure, our car has a comprehensive auto insurance but that’s not enough, right? I’ve even asked for quotes and latest insurance rates to make sure that I have the complete information that I need. I want to make sure that IF anything goes wrong, God forbid, I am covered.

I have a son now and I can’t afford to have an accident whatsoever. Aside from that J would not be here, meaning I cannot always rely on him. I have to do it myself this time around. But in the world where gas prices are rising faster than our salaries, I can’t help but whine, “do I have to really drive?”