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This is a collection of memories regarding driving before the age of 20. We moved to Fargo when I was 10, so I often divide my life as a : before moving to Fargo, while in Fargo, and life after moving back from Fargo, returning to St. Cloud.
Before we moved to Fargo in August of 1968, I was definitely driving Grandpa's tractor by then. I didn't do field work (such as cultivating), but I would do things like drive the tractor with a wagon to take garbage to the end of the farm or move the tractor pulling a stonebolt up to the next pile of rocks or similar utilitarian tasks.
When we lived in Fargo from Aug. 1968 until Aug. 1972, I learned the basics of driving a manual transmission, perhaps at the farm or while hunting in ND. I am sure that I never while in Fargo, but I know that I was driving either Grandpa's truck or our Travelall when picking sweetcorn in the fields. I don't think I drove at all on public roads.
Once we returned to St. Cloud, I know that I definitely drove the truck a lot more while doing farm work. Sometimes this was doing things to help Grandpa while other times it was for my family, such as for working with sweetcorn. I recall one time, before I had obtain my license or permit, Grandpa needed me to drive a load of oats or rye to Clear Lake and sell it. I think he was more interested in the moisture content or some other data than anything else. I also remember once when driving to the cabin or back, Dad had me drive for a bit and I was concerned when I saw a sheriff near Rice. One time when Becky and I were taking our drivers education training in the summer at a Clear Lake elementary school, both of our parents were busy with things and couldn't take us and mom asked me if I could drive us. But she cautioned me to park at the far end of the parking lot so that no one could see that I was the driver.
Becky and I had taken our driver's education training in the summer of 1973. That fall, I started my sophomore year and Becky her senior year. That was also the year that I met Marcia since we were in chemistry class. (See How Marcia and I met story.) I turned 16 in January of 1974 and I scheduled my driver's examination a day or two afterwards when it worked with my schedule and Mom's schedule. Marcia knew the day that I was going to have it and the next day in chemistry, the first thing she asked was about how the exam went. I was excited about being official about driving, but I was not crazy about driving or having a car. In fact, when possible, I preferred to bike (as I did the two summers that I had a job with the St. Cloud Recreation Department and I biked in every day.) In fact, I never bought a car while I was single. Together, "we" bought a car in January or February in 1978, the year we were married, but technically, she bought it since she had the money to pay for it. To me, cars have always been a utilitarian device.
Published 2026-07-18.
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