Ed... Drivers Ed

Meet Mr. Pudlo. He will forever be one of my favorite teachers and I will always remember him. I only had one class with him, but it was quite memorable: drivers education. If you've ever wondered to yourself how someone could deal with a bunch of adolescents day after day, and sit in the passenger seat of a car while they learn how to drive, I have an answer for you. They have had a labodomy. I seriously think that Mr. Pudlo had the part of his brain that makes him sad or upset removed. He has the uncanny ability to take simple instructions and turn them into a 4 minute comedic improv about how not to drive. He would turn a serious situation, such as a car accident and turn it into a laughing matter without even trying. His favorite way to "scare" us was to describe some extenuating circumstance, and then "BAAAHAHAHAAAMMM" you hit the guard rail and fly through your windsheild. Anyone else telling the story, it would be sad, tragic. With him, it was like watching Peter Griffin tell people they have AIDS. In fact, one of the most vivid memories of my life was during my study hall sophomore year when he came to pick me up for our on the road lesson. He broke the news of the 9/11 attacks to the entire room. He announced that a large building in New York was on fire. Then that it was probably terrorists that did it. Nobody knew how to react because of the way he is... was he just taking things to the extreme like always? And that driving lesson will forever be a memory of how confusing life can be.

He also instructed us in the practice of dealing with road kill from the movie Tommy Boy: "Never put an animal that you hit with your car in the back seat, especially in a soft top. It might wake up and 'hoof' you to death, or at least tear up your interior pretty good." He said this in such a matter, and with such vibrant hand motions and full body animation that you could not help but forget about all the homework and quizzes coming up the rest of your day. We also had the pleasure of playing against him in the intramural leagues before school. Imagine this man talking trash, needless to say if he scored you were demoralized beyond your wildest imagination.

This is a video one of his students posted on YouTube. It is a little long, but I can't help but smile and remember the good times in learning how to drive. Perhaps this explains how I became the driver I am today: forever afraid of ridicule at the hands of one of the most sarcastic men I have ever known. Here's to you, Mr. Pudlo.