Authorized.

I am now authorized to sit in 5,000 pounds of metal and point it at stuff.

In other words, my trip to the DMV this morning was a success. The only question on the knowledge test I skipped was "If you are caught possessing a fake ID you will receive etc etc a fine etc etc suspension IF:" In my defense, I don't think John and Patrice from the 80's AAA Driver's Ed videos covered that specific scenario. Mostly they just gushed about anti-lock brakes and repeated, "Remember, slow down in adverse conditions!"

Now armed with a slip of paper saying I can sit behind a wheel as long as a licensed driver over 21 is screaming--er, sitting--next to me, get to do practice stuff like driving the 5-mile loop by my house. Which I did earlier, my mom and sister (happy birthday, Brynna!-- I gave her some stress-induced adrenaline rushes for her big day) fulfilling duties by sitting in the van.

I had a couple close brushes with mailboxes and one guardrail veered kind of close to me, but otherwise we were all in good and semi-good physical and mental conditions when I pulled back into the driveway. Mom even managed to say, faintly, "Good job."

Kidding. She actually was impressed. Is that against the laws of having-a-teenager-who-is-driving? I think it might be.

Oh, also-- BIG EXCITING NEWS to come soon.