I think I was 13 before I was trusted to drive the 51 Chevy pickup by myself. Our farm was 5 miles from the house and I made that trip by myself many times. I almost turned it over when I was 14 and had nearly a bale of cotton in the back.

One of my scariest driving incidents occurred when I was 15. I had a learner permit by then, but wasn't supposed to drive alone. I had carried a load of watermelons to a curb market in downtown Selma one morning before school. I was hurrying to get back home, and was driving in the left lane. There was a slow vehicle in front so I passed him on the right. Truck didn't have all the mirrors it was supposed to have and I didn't see the motorcycle. The guy yelled out and I snatched it back and didn't force him into the parked cars, but it was close. We both kept going, but my nerves were shot all day.