It arrived by Canada Post this morning.
asserted
It → arrive → Post
My fingers actually trembled as I opened the slim white envelope and pulled it out.
asserted
I → tremble → it
Then, reading glasses on, I peered at it carefully, making sure — as instructed — that all the numbers and tiny type shown on the front were correct.
asserted
numbers → peer → front
I cringed at the shocking photo of me on the left (Oh boy, do I really look that old now?) and finally, as the reality sunk in, tucked this eagerly-awaited item inside my wallet wanting to shriek for joy, for happiness, for sheer relief, that all the worry, the nagging doubts, the what if? scenarios that had been buzzing around in my head, were over.
asserted
that → cringe → head
Because hey, I’d done it!
asserted
I → do → it
I’d got it.
asserted
I → get → it
This unassuming little blue card (which came surprisingly promptly in the mail) was proof.
asserted
which → come → mail
It meant I was free to drive for another two years.
asserted
I → mean → years
If you are reading this and haven’t yet reached the age of 80, you are probably wondering: what the heck?
asserted
you → read → 80
Why all this ridiculous angst and agonizing over getting a driver’s licence renewed?
asserted
licence → get → ?
It’s a simple enough matter in Ontario isn’t it?
asserted
it → ’ → Ontario
You can even do it online now.
asserted
You → do → it
Takes no more than a few minutes to fill out the form, pay by credit card and click, you’re done.
asserted
you → take → card
The truth is, it’s an entirely different tank of gas once you join the ranks of the Really Old (as, alas, I have.)
asserted
I → ’ → Old
Make it to the milestone of three score years and 20, and you are suddenly introduced to an entirely different — and scary — world.
asserted
you → make → world
It’s a world of eye tests and cognitive screening and maybe, if you’re unlucky, complex medical tests designed to make sure you still have the mental and physical capacity to drive safely.
asserted
you → ’ → capacity
And if you fail to pass muster, the taken-for-granted licence that’s been a fixture in your wallet for years could be abruptly taken away.
uncertain
that → fail → years
You won’t be allowed to drive anymore.
asserted
You → allow → ?
It’s that final.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
The Ontario government first introduced driving tests for seniors way back in 1979 — and with good reason.
asserted
government → introduce → reason
It was done in response to statistics that revealed older drivers have a lower overall crash involvement rates than younger drivers, but run a significantly higher risk of being seriously injured or dying in a collision.
asserted
drivers → do → collision
We are particularly vulnerable, one report says, during multi-vehicle crashes at intersections.
asserted
report → say → intersections
Since then the testing procedure has undergone several changes, but throughout, one key ingredient has stayed basically the same.
asserted
ingredient → undergo → changes
That’s the dreaded “clock test.”
asserted
That → ’ → ?
It’s been proven to be amazingly accurate at revealing dementia — or at least the possible onset of the disease.
asserted
It → prove → disease
Every driver who reaches 80 must thus undergo this test every two years.
asserted
who → reach → test
I say “dreaded” because I was absolutely terrified of screwing up.
asserted
I → say → ?
It involved reporting to a meeting hall in Guelph with a bunch of other 80-year-olds, (we all eyed each other anxiously) and being told to draw a clock with numbers on it, plus hands pointing to 20 past 11.
asserted
we → involve → 11
Friends assured me it would be a breeze.
asserted
it → assure → me
I worried that out of nerves, I’d get it wrong.
asserted
it → worry → nerves
But I won’t forget the frail, grey-haired man sitting at the front who just couldn’t seem to get the hang of drawing that darn clock.
asserted
who → forget → clock
He was practically in tears, pleading with the instructor to help him.
asserted
He → plead → him
“Sorry sir,” she said gently.
asserted
she → say → ?
“I’m not allowed to.”
asserted
I → allow → ?
I don’t know what happened to the poor guy — I suspect he was told to see his doctor — and since then the testing process has been streamlined somewhat.
asserted
process → know → doctor
It’s now carried out directly by a clerk at Service Ontario offices, not in a group setup.
asserted
It → carry → setup
But it still means facing the scary “clock test.”
asserted
it → mean → test
I know because I’ve just done it for the second time.
asserted
I → know → time
(Yes, it’s hard to believe, but I’ve just turned 82.
asserted
I → ’ → 82
So I’m glad — and incredibly grateful — to have received that little blue card now sitting in my wallet.
asserted
I → ’m → wallet
The Aporia
