Full circle

I'm taking my dad to get his driver's licence test. He's turning 82 next month; as a senior citizen he has to take his driver's licence test every two years. I remember when my dad taught me to drive and helped me get my driver's licence when I was 16. Now I am helping him renew his driver's licence - life is coming to a full circle.

He looks spiffy - he dressed up for the occasion. Nice jacket, slacks, shoes - he looks better dressed than when he goes to church. He even looks like he's had a haircut.

I know that he's worried that if he doesn't pass this test today, they will take away his driver's licence. That would be a major lifestyle change for him and my mom.

There is no line up when we arrive and he does his vision test right away. He appears to be a little nervous but he's handling it well. Soon he completes his vision test and goes into a room for his written test. I'm not allowed to wait in the test room, understandably. I wait in another area for him. I read a John Grisham book for a while, snooze a little, call J from my cell phone and talk a little.

Eventually he comes out. He doesn't say anything, and holds his papers in his hands. I see the word Pass written on the bottom. So - he made it.

When we get home my mom is there. She asks how it went. My dad doesn't say much and I tell her the story. "So he passed?" she concludes.

"He didn't say anything but I saw the word Pass on his form. He has to go back in December to attend a class."

"He must have passed," she says with a grin as he returns to the kitchen, "because he got out the shot glasses."

He pours shots and lifts his glass. "What are we toasting?" asks my mom, with a little tongue in cheek. She knows he won't say anything directly but this is her way of playing with him.

He toasts to our health and thanks me for taking him downtown to write his test.

That means he passed.