What does standard mean in driving?

What does "standard" mean when you're talking about driving? Ugh, "standard transmission"—that's what my grandpa always called it, and just saying it makes me miss him, you know? It's a manual, a stick shift. The kind where you have to, like, actually work to change gears. Clutch, stick… the whole shebang. Remember those driving lessons? Mine were terrifying, mostly because I kept stalling. I nearly wore out the clutch on my instructor's poor little Ford Focus!

I think it's way more engaging than an automatic, more connected to the car, somehow. You feel more… in it. It's not just about getting from A to B, it's about driving. You know? Automatics are easy peasy, lemon squeezy, sure. But honestly, is there anything quite as satisfying as that perfect clunk when you nail a gear change? I mean, really? There isn't! It's music to my ears, especially going uphill. My old VW Beetle... that thing needed a lot of skill.

It's a dying art, though. I hardly ever see anyone driving a stick shift anymore. It's a shame, really. Makes you wonder if future generations will even know what a clutch is! I’m probably rambling, but hey, sometimes a girl just needs to wax lyrical about her love of manual transmissions. They're not as common as they used to be. I read somewhere that only, like, 5% of new cars sold now are manuals or something crazy like that. Crazy, right?