Driving to Batangas in my father's slightly new AUV

Last Sunday, 03 June 2005, was the first time I drove my family to Batangas using my father's "slightly new" (read: 2nd hand) Toyota Revo LXV. Usually, my younger brother does the drving chores whenever we go to Batangas for visits because I usually drive my father's car to work. He had told me before that it was his only chance to drive, so we made this arrangement, although during our last visit (he was with us) he let me drive going back to Manila because he felt really sleepy.

It's not like I hadn't driven that AUV before. I had test driven it before it was bought, so I was quite familiar with it. Unfortunately, I hadn't driven it in long drives (if you can consider Manila-Batangas as long drive). And, perhaps more importantly, my father didn't really want me driving because I do have a tendency to fall asleep while I am at the wheel (When I was still in college, I used to drive my youngest brother to school. One time, we left really early and I was half-asleep. When we came to an intersection, we stopped and immediately after that, I closed my eyes and dozed off. He managed to wake me up just as the stoplight turned green.). But he had no choice. so he let me drive all the way.

He didn't have a problem with me driving to Batangas because it was morning and everyone was still awake. He became afraid only when we were going home since everyone usually falls asleep at that time, being tired and all. But I came prepared for this. I brought my DMB compilation cassette, loaded it up to the player, and just sang with the songs so that I won't fall asleep. And I didn't. But my father still didn't sleep (or so he says because I couldn't see him in my rearview mirror).

So we came home safe and sound. And only after that did I get my sleep, which was only about 30 minutes because I still had to meet Caroline for our usual Sunday night dinner.