First time out

I with you Hodge-Podge, I also have to back by myself.

I had some kind of system reset and shot a blank.

I was trying to say Dar has become quite good as a spotter.  I did get a set of tools that's name escapes me with telescoping poles, magnets and yellow foam balls.  One goes on the truck hitch and one goes on the trailer part, and when the balls touch things are lined up.  It works perfectly and helps to avoid yelling.  I also got a pair of FRS handi-talkies and Dar talks me into the site so I don't have to try and figure out hand signals that turn out to be swatting skeeters.  Much more peaceful!

LOL!

Well, if you keep backing up and put a dent in your rear bumper, that would count as a personal foul.   

Congrats on a good trip. You'll get the hand signals down with practice. Things like "instead of waving your fingers, show me with two hands how much room I have left". My wife is still working on that one. I also have some safety rules, like "everyone stays in the car (except Mom of course) while I'm backing up", and for my wife "I'm not moving until I can see you in my side mirror, if you later disappear I'm not moving until I can see you again".

On a related note, my wife knows some basic sign language because she uses it in her classroom. We were talking to another family this weekend who taught the alphabet to everyone in the family partly so they can communicate with each other from a distance. I thought that was a really great idea so I'm going to ask my wife to teach us. Might help with backing up, too!