My Grandson turned sixteen last week and I鈥檓 still trying to figure out where those last sixteen years went. I can recall pacing the hospital corridor, and the week-end sleepovers and all the things that Grandpas and little boys do together. Now he is taller than me and no doubt quite a bit smarter than me or his parents.
By the afternoon of his birthday he had been to the Motor Vehicle office and proudly came out with his 鈥楲鈥�. This opens up an entirely new scope of possibilities for a boy and an entirely new set of worries and concerns for his parents.
The 鈥楲鈥� is the first step in the Graduated Licence Program. To get through GLP, you鈥檒l have to pass three tests, one multiple choice test, then two road tests. It takes about three years from start to end. That means lots of time to develop your skills.
I had a graduated program when I learned to drive as well. I can still hear the encouraging voice of my father, 鈥淟et the clutch out, the fan won鈥檛 pull it.鈥� or 鈥淭hey call it a stop sign because you鈥檙e supposed to stop before you pass it.鈥� or 鈥淚s your neck broken? Check over your shoulder before you turn.鈥� Yes, it was driving boot camp for sure. Eventually, after some professional lessons as well, I would take the driving test and I would have our license.
But, that was the provincial exam, not Dad鈥檚 final exam. Eventually, when we could stop on the hill, release the hand brake, the clutch and the foot brake all in the right sequence without stalling or spraying gravel, we could get to use the car on our own. We always had to endure the lecture about it being the family car and not something to joy ride in. It had to get Dad to work, don鈥檛 speed and leave the radio turned off so we could concentrate. To this day, if I鈥檓 looking for an address, I turn the radio off so I can concentrate.
We had a long driveway to practice in and every time Dad gave us the keys he would say 鈥淭ake it up and down the driveway but don鈥檛 go on the road.鈥� Many years later, after the implant of his defibrillator, Dad no longer had a driver鈥檚 licence. One day he had to move his car out of the garage and asked me to get his keys. I stood at the window and said, 鈥淭ake it up and down the driveway, but don鈥檛 go on the road.鈥� He scowled and growled, 鈥淕ive me those keys, now.鈥� He didn鈥檛 always think I was funny.
I鈥檓 sure my Grandson will eventually drive a nice electric vehicle. The National Safety Board is going to require electric cars to make noise at low speeds to warn pedestrians. I鈥檒l show him how to attach baseball cards to the spokes of the hubcaps with clothespins. That always works. At least that鈥檚 what McGregor says.
