Another thing I gave up: Driving
For the past 14 years, I have not driven a car here in the US. It gives me anxiety. Am I the only one that feels this way?
I feel like if I drive and submit myself to the perils of the freeway, that would be the end of me. Or maybe I'll live, but I’ll miss all my exits (because I can't merge), and I'll end up in LA.
You see, I never had to deal with a whole slew of speeding cars in Manila. Traffic was always so bad that it’d sometimes take you an hour just to move 5 miles. It was rare for me even to reach 40 mph if I was driving in the city. So imagine moving here and seeing all that space between cars. And speeding? That’s new to me.
What does driving have to do with my IBD? Well, it's one of the stress-inducing things I had to remove from my life. I've managed to go around via train, trolley, the free Circuit rides around downtown, and there's, of course, my ever-reliable husband, Jerry.
I'd sometimes get teased about not driving here in California, and my usual reply is, “But can you drive a stick in Manila”?!?
Someday I do hope I'm able to conquer this fear. If my body cooperates, I'll be able to drive seamlessly without crappy consequences.