12 days of thankfulness – Day 12: Licensed
Day 12:
On the twelfth day of thankfulness…
Most people my age have had their car license for at least 15 years. Not me. I got my Learner’s Permit when I was 16, and then a subsequent three other times. Each time, my Learner’s license expired and I never advanced to the stage where I was legally able to drive. Sure, I had lessons – I think my Dad took me for two or three lessons before we both got so frustrated with each other we gave up. I lived close to public transport when growing up and never really needed a license. But still I thought it would be nice to have.
As time went by, rules and regulations changed and even though I was a ‘mature’ aged learner, I was still required to complete a log book of 50 something hours. So I got my Mum to give me a lesson. Our lesson, while successful, lasted 45 minutes. And 45 minutes is what she wrote in my log book. What? Everyone knows you are supposed to lie in these things. Apparently no one told my Mum and she refused to change it. So I gave up again.
When I moved out of home I lived close to my work, close to the city, so I caught public transport and taxis everywhere. I had no need for a license. But soon I was to move to the country. A place where public transport is ‘sumfin dem city folks got’. So I started taking proper paid lessons with a driving school. Finally I seemed to get somewhere. My [now] wife elaborated on these lessons with her own instruction, crossed a couple of ‘t’s and dotted some ‘i’s and soon my log book was at 50 hours. I went for my driving test, and passed. Finally, I had my Provisional Driver’s License.
That was three years ago. 2008 was a different era. The world was so much more innocent back then. Things were so uncomplicated. Analogue TV was all the rage. Things were just slower.
Now, having been on a red Provisional License for one year, and green Provisional License for two years, I am legally permitted to be on an unrestricted license. I cannot imagine life without a license nowadays, and I am thankful that I have reached this point. What a journey the last 17 odd years have been.
I am thankful for patience, I am thankful for persistence. I am thankful for instruction and guidance. I am thankful for humility. I am thankful to finally be licensed.
[NB: At time of writing, I have one final test to pass before gaining my unrestricted car license. Stay tuned].
