This story comes from a book of prompts called "Tell Me Your Story Mom" -- several of us would bring it out while visiting Kate.

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TELL ME ABOUT GETTING YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE...

[When she heard this prompt her eyes lit up and she said "ooooh! this is a good one!!"]

"I was 21 maybe 22 after I had polio.  So Bill Collins said, "I'll teach you to drive if you type my College papers" -- he was going to St. Peter's College, I think.  So I typed his papers.  It was an automatic car but NOT a convertible.  He taught me on the streets of Tenafly.  On Tenafly Road I was stopped on the hill at a red light and when the light turned green I hit the gas and drove into a tree!!! The wheel was turned and I didn't realize it.  I never did that again! Bill took the blame for it but I don't think he took me for any more lessons and I don't think I had to type any more papers either!" 

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?...
"An Oldsmobile -- automatic, due to the polio"

HOW MUCH DID A GALLON OF GAS COST THEN? 
"Ned was at a job in Hackensack, but did not have a car.  Mom asked met o pick him up.  We were going east on Rt 4.  I asked Ned for $ for gas -- they each had about 11 cents total and it was enough to get a few gallons to get Ned and myself home safe and sound.  Adn that's a true story!"

This Facebook post was one of the most memorable from our cross-country trip.  It was one of those life lessons that came out of left field. It was Kate's version of wackin you on the head to teach me a valuable lesson