Guus Bosman

Last Saturday I used my newly acquired driver's license and I rented a car.

When I made the reservation I asked for a compact -- a small model. At the rental office they said: "oh, we're out of the small cars, in fact this one here is the last available one we have".

So, one day after I got my license I drove a Jeep Grand Charokee Laredo. With its 3.7-liter V6 engine and 4x4 wheel drive, it was quite different than the car I did my driving lessons in.

I first drove around the block a few times, to get used to the controls and to the size of the car, and then I went to Court House to pick up Sasha.

We spent the whole afternoon on the road, and saw a lot of the D.C. area. We went to the Great Falls, we saw the Pentagon and Alexandria and had lunch somewhere in Fairfax.

I used the car to return my keys and laptop to my previous employer's office, and returned it Sunday morning.

Driving through Washington D.C. It will be a while before I get that chance again.