I Can See Clearly Now

Last week was the week to renew my driver's license again. It seems like only yesterday that I went through the process last time. Not long ago at all. As I approached renewal this time I was aware that there may be some changes. Big changes ahead for me. My state requires anyone getting or renewing a driver's license at the age of fifty or older to pass a vision screening test. Last time I just barely passed it without glasses. The result? My driver's license did not indicate that I was required to wear glasses when I drove. A sign of youth. Eternal youth. However, this time, I had to face the fact that my eyes have changed and that at my recent eye exam the eye doctor recommended that I start wearing my glasses all the time now. I don't like wearing my glasses! At times I get dizzy and a bit nauseated when I wear them. Because I don't wear them all the time!

I approached the Department of Motor Vehicles building with a bit of apprehension. I took a number and immediately was called to the desk where a very nice young lady assisted me. She checked my documentation - a process with many new requirements in my state - and then proceeded to tell me about the vision test. I mentioned that I was pretty sure that I would need to wear my glasses to drive this time. She suggested that I test first without my glasses and see how I would do. Great idea! Maybe - just maybe - I could get by a bit longer without the dreaded 'Glasses required for driving' designation on my new license.

I stepped up to the little machine, put my forehead against top and began the test. She turned on the light inside the machine. In front of me were several rows of letters, similar to the test at the eye doctor's office. 'Please read the third row down. All the letters from the far left to the far right.' OK. I can do that. No problem. They are big and easy to read. The letters were inside three rectangular boxes across the line. A blank box was at the far right. Strange but there was nothing in it! First box: O Z N V. Second box: P B C M. Third box: H L T G. Done. I did it. Now what? 'Do you see any letters in the fourth box?' 'No. It's empty. Are there supposed to be letters in that box?' 'Let's have you put on your glasses and read that line again.' (Glasses put on.) 'Wow! What do you know! That box is FULL of letters, too.' I knew what that meant. So I read all of the letters in all four boxes. Left to right. A smile on her face as I moved away from the vision test machine told me what I already knew. I HAVE to wear glasses at all times while driving now. Yep, you guessed it. I walked out of there with a new driver's license. But this time it was different than the licenses I've had through the past forty-something years since my first license. I don't know how this happened! It was just yesterday that I took my first driving test, wasn't it? Really? It's been how long? As I drove home I calculated how long before I have to go back for another renewal. I'll be HOW OLD? Seventy. 7 - 0! Like my grandma was not long ago. No, wait! If she were still alive she would be 106. Where did all that time go?

So as I sit here trying to read this screen through these new glasses - I've begun to adjust to the changes that come through the years. Changes from lessons learned. Things like a bit more wisdom. A more comfortable sense of who I am and where I am in life. Now-grown kids who bring such joy to my life. The greatest grandkids a girl could hope for. A sweetheart who has loved me through the decades. And who still loves me just as I am. Glasses and all!

Photo from Allposter.com