Driving at midnight

Once a minor gets their license in Georgia they gradually earn more driving privileges. For the first six months they have their license they can only have immediate family members in the car. For the next six months they are allowed to have one (1) non-family member in the car. After that they can drive up to and including three (3) non-family members around. Also, they are forbidden from operating a vehicle between the hours of midnight and 5:00 am (with no exceptions—Rachel told me in the driver's education course she took they said they would take your license from you on the spot and cut it up right in front of your eyes). 

*****

Last night we had a project kick-off party at one of my professor's house. Our class got all wrapped up in a tangential topic over the course of the semester and have collectively decided to try to publish what we've been reading and researching. So we met, had some dinner, divided into teams to do some brainstorming, and finished the evening by watching a film version of our selected text (for research). We didn't end until around 11:15, so we were cutting it close for Rachel and me to make it home before we turned into pumpkins (or until Rachel couldn't drive). 

Rachel helped me get there because Rachel doesn't hyperventilate on the highway. She's very useful. 

The problem was that our ETA (estimated time of arrival) was 12:10 am. 

So at 11:58 pm, Rachel pulled into the Walmart parking lot and we switched places. 

Because while Rachel can get on the highway (and I can't), I can drive home from Walmart at midnight (and she can't).

She felt a little silly insisting on this switch, but ultimately felt she would feel even more silly having her license taken away this close to turning 18. 

And then I pulled out of the Walmart parking lot and ended up driving right behind a police car most of the way home and Rachel felt extra glad that we'd switched places!