Grumpy senior

There have been several incidents recently that bother me. I was recently informed by the Motor Vehicles Branch that I must attend a lecture and test before my drivers license would be renewed. I've known this would happen for a long time and it applies to everyone of a certain age. What I found to be unsettling was that the real purpose of this event was to discourage my generation from driving. Besides a vision test and a written test the process includes a lecture and a booklet  that describes all the physical limitations senior drivers must deal with printed, not surprisingly, in large bold font. OK, our mature bodies are not as rubbery as younger people and a reminder is probably a good, if painful, reminder of that reality. The booklet ended with a cost study that shows we can save $5000 a year by taking taxis or public transportation. The booklet describes other ways to get around without a car. It is obvious they want seniors off the road.

      Some results of the 2011 census were published showing that the number of seniors will soon exceed the number of young people entering the work force with the implication that the world would be better off if seniors passed away younger as they did in years gone by. The subtle implication is that we should get out of the way so the Boomers who are now becoming seniors will have space to take over the senior market as they took over throughout the decades. Of course, who were the parents of the Boomers? It's we, the current seniors who bore and raised them. Is that gratitude?

       Am I super sensitive about this? Well, yes, I guess I am but who said life was fair. It is pleasant and so much better than the alternative so I'll live with it but I just had to bitch a little bit. It's the privilege of being an old grump.

May 20 2012

             The May holiday in Canada is known as the May two-four weekend in honour of the Queen of England who also is the Queen of Canada. We won’t debate the reason for that but let us say it is the first holiday weekend of the summer. I think the two-four is a reference to the standard box of beer people use to celebrate summer in our many camp grounds and where else they welcome summer.

           This weekend has been a glorious one in southern Ontario. The sky has been clear and free of clouds, the temperature in the mid 20’s, the days are long and tranquil. The nights are anything but quiet with many people blowing up fireworks. The noise is jarring but what can I say, I guess they are happy or stoned, who knows.

           Suppose you are a person with a beautiful black Kawasaki motor cycle you are becoming confident riding looking forward to a weekend of dry roads and time ride with the wind. What could be better? Now, suppose you are the same person with a daughter in her mid-teens with a medical problem that is not easily diagnosed. You are a single parent; there is no support to share the burden.

            The nearby hospital is usually busy with people lining up for appointments, specialist treatments, surgery or whatever attention people need. It is a different place on a long holiday weekend, the corridors are empty, the rooms are the empty, nursing stations are quiet and the nurses have time to be helpful without the appearance of rushing.

            I’ll paint the picture in brighter colours. The black Kawasaki sits in the garage, the sun shines high in the ski, the birds are singing in the green leafed trees making their babies, you are in the hospital room with your teenage daughter who is becoming more and more irritable as she struggles with the confines of whatever it is that is restricting her to this place. Did you get the image clearly in your mind? I hope so.

           Is this an ode to the May two-four week end? No, while most of our fellow citizens are enjoying the gift of the perfect summer weekend some put their personal desires on hold for others. Children are special others and let us hope they learn to appreciate their parents and the sacrifice they make for them. It is usually in later life that such realization happens and I guess all parents learn to live with that reality.

I posted this to honour my special friend who is the mother sitting in that deserted hospital room. She is one of the good ones and one day the dry roads and the soft wind will welcome her and the black Kawasaki as she fulfill dreams long suppressed.

Love you Kim.