Daddydavek

Kitt's post got me curious. It seems in May 2001 NJ updated it's driving rules..... The info below copied from: http://www.nj.gov/faqs/drive/index.html What is the driving age in NJ? In 2001, New Jersey joined 23 other states and several Canadian provinces in implementing a multi-stage driver licensing system. The new system introduces driving privileges gradually to first-time drivers and applicants under 21 years, extends their practice driving time, and raises the unrestricted basic driver license age from 17 to 18 years.

​​HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

With the multiple story lines, I cannot begin to anticipate where you will take us next!

The interesting thing to all this is that Will has given the car to Zach and now that he has it, I don't think it will be taken away unless he screws up which as a kid he may do. But if he doesn't and acts responsibly, then it is a win for him. I mentioned before that I think from the clues Mark has dropped that Zach has made a conscious decision to be better and to do better. I wish him success.

Here is a link to a timed interactive map of Europe. I only got 22 of 45 right in the five minutes allotted. I don't know all those tiny southern European countries very well. http://www.jetpunk.com/quizzes/map-quiz-europe.php

Sounds like the story about the Harvard undergrads that couldn't name the capital city of Canada.....

If the car is the problem and Will caused it, then I guess that Brad and Gathan will just have to deal with it as I seriously doubt Will will take it back. I'm sure he will bring up the fact that he has a gifted a car previously. That he walked out on them without giving them a chance to vent was the right thing to do. What I am looking forward to Hawaii and the surfing.

So "the car" is a problem and Will caused it? I think Brad and Gathan should thank Will. They can honestly tell Zach's parents it wasn't them and blame it all on Will. I have a feeling Will could not care less if they are upset about it. The trip to Hawaii sounds better and better. I hope the surf is up! Thanks for the great chapter! AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

My advice is for her to donate the bag to a charity drive and say nothing about it to her mother-in-law. If asked she should say it really wasn't her style so she donated it to charity. As for as re-gifting, I come from a large family. My sibs and I decided years ago to no longer exchange gifts and just provide gifts for the young ones under age 18. A few years ago someone suggested a re-gifting exchange where we picked a gift we did not use and pass it on. It has gone on for some time and is sort of looked forward to now. A couple of the items have been passed around to almost all of us.

Now that we have JJ all figured out I'm looking forward to the next installment as I'm curious what is coming next and I'm hoping for an early Thanksgiving present!

OK now we know that Lord Arbour has undying respect for his British resource and all around fount of wisdom, Westie! And yes, anyone who can espouse salient facts as logically and convincingly as Westie is a treasure!

Happy Birthday Addy! I hope your day is wonderful!

Mikeal after making a fool of himself, figures out what he wants and went for it. Good for him and wasn't it nice that his feelings were reciprocated all along? Good job!

Innuendos? It looked pretty obvious to me with the crotch grab!

Very nice chapter and I loved how it ended. Two sibs both deciding to make-up! Great job!

Our beagle sleeps under the covers with us.....

"The only way we can improve our circumstances is to acknowledge and maybe even embrace all of our shortcomings instead of being delusional and just repeating to ourselves that things would okay, we're all perfect, and everything will all be fine." I don't think having a positive attitude means you can't be a realist and take steps to avoid known hazards. Neither does it mean you should be delusional and just wish things to be ok. Being positive means you take active steps to effectuate a positive outcome in all your actions and reactions. Cynics are usually too sure of bad results no matter the probabilities and usually fail to take any proactive measures as they assume they will fail or fate will intervene and ruin things anyway. The message I am trying to convey that while we live in a less than perfect world that has always had what seems to be insurmountable problems, humanity has so far managed to carry on and in some ways overcome. Look at the medical advances in the last 60 years, especially vaccines and even treatment for AIDS which was death sentence for so many years!

I like happy endings too. Thanks for the reviews and liking my story.

Dean is still figuring himself out. Thanks for the review!

I hope you enjoy the story!

Kyle has it right and I am glad to see you reinforce that.

Being cynical and expecting the worst may be a coping mechanism but I can't recommend it. Idealism, hope and a sense of progressive optimism may have disappointments, but being positive is a much better place to live than being negative in my experience. It is sad when our idealism is shaken by a horrific event but the ability to pick ourselves up and move on can be inspirational. I am a realist, but I also retain my optimism because cynicism can too easily be a self-fulfilling prophecy. People with lowered expectations expect less and usually achieve less. Cynics are also quick to point out that others are sitting back and waiting for someone to do something instead of doing something themselves.

Somehow I think the end of the Odyssey is but a few chapters away and there will be much left to wonder about until the next book in the saga is revealed. But then that is just my thought and (Lord) Arbour may have a different agenda altogether.

I think you are too hard on a whole generation. I think you are right in that 9/11 did not have quite the impact as December 7 or November 22, but an impact was surely made and perhaps in ways not yet evident.

Not bitter, just doggedly realistic.