This morning I took my life into my hands and went downtown to take my motorcycle skills test. A month or two ago I passed the written test to get my permit. Much fear and trembling was involved as I read the handbook cover to cover while waiting for my number to be called. I've been a pretty good test-taker all my life, but something about the DMV throws me into a panic. I actually failed an Idaho licensing test about 7 years ago, but that's neither here nor there.

So anyway, this morning, after forcing Eggos and coffee down my queasy stomach, I decamped to the Harley dealer on Chinden and heard the blood rushing in my ears as I got there a minute too late to see an elderly gentleman on a scooter fail the test. I missed his mistakes, but I heard him complaining to the other two petitioners. Luckily I was able to watch a big dude on a big bike literally crawl through the cone swerve so slowly he had to put his foot down twice. While we watched, the next gal in line carefully explained the markings painted on the pavement, which looked like a nightmarish maze. She'd been there several times practicing and was worried. Big dude passed with a -9 ... -10 being the key figure. Next gal started up and managed to put her foot down and squash two cones. She passed with a -5. Me and my Honda 90 were up. I had to make a tight turn without hitting any of the yellow lines, then stop with my front tire in a box. Cone swerve at an alarmingly slow pace, then a U-turn within the specified box. Fast stop and fast swerve and I passed miraculously with a -1. My little bike is responsible I think, as she is so slow and so short that I couldn't help but wrest her into the right maneuvers. Watch out world!