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photo from Pixabay

Yesterday I got behind the wheel and drove—all by myself. The car battery failed from not driving it during the COVID shutdown, and we had to take the vehicle down to the dealer to have it checked.

“Wait, “you say, “What’s the big deal? You’re not 16 and just getting your permanent driver’ license, are you?”

Nope, I’m mumble mumble years old, a long way from 16, but it’s been 486+ days since I’ve driven a car.

You see, Feb. 3, 2019, I fell and shattered my right shoulder and had a total shoulder replacement. The one time during that recovery period, which lasted until sometime in August, when I tried to haul myself into my SUV and drive, I couldn’t yet turn the steering wheel. Between September and early October of 2019 I had two other surgeries, for other issues, which kept me from driving. Then on October 19, I had a spiral break on the humerus bone on the same arm I had my shoulder replacement, which required another surgery.

I have a scar from the tip of my shoulder to about 2 inches from the crease of my elbow. The spiral break required a plate that is screwed into place on the unbroken sections of the bone and wrapped in a cable on the broken section. But not to worry, I’m almost completely functional again. Not as good as new, but good enough to haul myself into the SUV without pain, and steer the vehicle on the right side of the road. I didn’t cross the center line one time!

As I was driving down the state line road toward the car dealer, at about 25 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone (you don’t want to go too fast when you haven’t been behind the wheel in a while, you know), on my very first outing alone, while my husband trailed behind to make sure I got to my destination, I thought, Wow! This is great! I can go somewhere without my husband in the car.

Just because I think it’s great to drive alone I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful for hubby’s chauffeuring skills. He’s been fantastic these nearly 500 days, chauffeuring me around and taking me to every appointment I needed to go to. He’s been right by my side as we shop and eat out. He’s taken great care of me and the house and the cooking and all the other things I couldn’t do. And truthfully, I didn’t really mind being a passenger. I could check my email and surf the net while he did all the driving. If I’d been in the back seat, which I couldn’t do with a busted arm, I’d have felt like royalty.

As I drove down the road with the wind whipping my hair over my face, all the car alarms beeping (they started ringing when we took the gear out of park), and a line of cars trailing behind me, I experienced a freedom I haven’t felt in a long time. There’s just something about the ability to get out on your own and cruise down the open road, no matter how fast.

Now, if the battery holds and we get the incessant beeping fixed and I can get up to the speed limit, the real fun will begin.

 

 

Catherine may not  be up to a long road trip yet, but the heroine and hero of her romantic comedy with a touch of drama, A Groom for Mama. certainly are.

Check out a sample of the book at Amazon.

 

A Groom for Mama

By Catherine Castle

Beverly Walters is dying, and before she goes she has one wish—to find a groom for her daughter. To get the deed done, Mama enlists the dating service of Jack Somerset, Allison’s former boyfriend.

The last thing corporate-climbing Allison wants is a husband. Furious with Mama’s meddling, and a bit more interested in Jack than she wants to admit, Allison agrees to the scheme as long as Mama promises to search for a cure for her terminal illness.

A cross-country trip from Nevada to Ohio ensues, with a string of disastrous dates along the way, as the trio hunts for treatment and A Groom For Mama.

About the Author:

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

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