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I first learned to drive a manual on the old "Three-On-the-Tree" three speed. It was actually pretty funny.

OLD war story here: Back when I went to high school, senior boys drove school buses for the most part. Some adults did, but at my high school, the senior boys did, and some juniors who were older did. NO CLD licenses in those days boys and girls.

So, one day my high school principal approached me one day as I was watching football practice and asked me if I would like to drive a bus that year. I said sure and he said it paid a WHOOPING $98.00 PER MONTH, BEFORE TAXES!!! Huge change back in my day.

So, I go home and tell my dad that I was going to drive a school bus and earn that $98.00 bucks. Dad looks at me and says, "You do know that the school bus is a four speed, MANUAL transmission don't you???" Rut-row!! I had not EVEN thought about THAT!!! Oh *&%T!!!!!

So, I says to him, you got to teach me how and I got two weeks before I go pick up the bus at the county bus barn about 20 miles from our home. My aunt lived with us and she had the old Chevy 3 on a tree manual transmission. There was a back alley between our houses on our street and the next street over. So, that became by gear grinding, clutch burning, practice ground. My dad took me out there and we started practicing.

So, the big day came. Dad took me up to the bus barn. I go in and tell them I am there to pick up my bus. I was told to sit with four or five other guys also waiting. Then this older guy comes out and grabs us and takes us out to a bus and tells us all he is going to take us for a test drive. So, we load up and he puts one kid in the seat and tells him to take off. So, we each took turns driving for a bit. So, I was second in the line. He told me to get in there. So, off I go from the side of the highway out into the lane. I go through those four gears like a pro and it was my very first time in a four speed. I go through the gears two or three times from stop signs and the man says, "pull over and get out of there."

OH #&$s!!! I was scared thinking I had really screwed the pooch. He says: "you know what you are doing, give one of these lesser experienced kids have a shot." I almost fell in the floor!!!! ROTFLMAO!!! That saying fit to a "T". So, we go back to the barn and he tells a couple of the kids they need they need some more practice before they can be turned loose with a bus and 75 kids on it. He looks at me and another guy and says give these two old pros their busses. I was like, OMG!! So, I get my bus and off I went.

I was the only driver in our fleet of 10 bus drivers who did not have an accident that year! Only the Good LORD in Heaven above was watching over this poor, lack of experience, kid. It was a fun year. I drove the football team a few games along with two other guys.