Why I am learning to drive a car at 81

The car stood in the driveway gathering dust. My son had moved to Canada and left it at my house with no directions as to what was to be done with it. It wasn’t of any use to me because I’ve never driven a car and don’t know how to drive one.

I turned 81 last year and my trusty steeds have always been two-wheelers — first a TVS 50, what was called a moped, and then a Hamara Bajaj. To be honest, I did consider learning how to drive a four-wheeler and attempted learning on and off with friends and younger relatives but I never enrolled in a driving school. And now, suddenly — almost a year after my son moved out — I thought, why not?

Last year, my wife who is 77, had a heart attack. Our children don’t live with us and at 10 pm that night when my wife complained of pain and nausea, I reached out to a neighbour. His son kindly drove my wife and me to the hospital in his car. That trip saved her life — she was able to get timely medical attention and lived to tell the tale.

My trusty steed wouldn’t have been of much use in this situation. Besides, I no longer use my scooter and prefer to rely on the city’s public transport to get to places nowadays. So, it was perhaps god’s grace that helped us that day and saved my wife’s life.

I think it was also a sign that I needed to learn to start driving a car.  I’ve always been independent, preferring not to depend on my children or anyone else, and being mobile was an important part of it. Though I am 81, I’m proud to say I still take care of everything around the house and outside of it as well! I am very particular about my food habits and what I eat and where — perhaps that and the active life I lead is the secret of my good health. I’ve had a bypass surgery some two decades ago but other than that I’m in the pink of health.

So, to cut a long story short, four days back I stopped by the driving school and paid the fee. People who know me may find this uncharacteristic because I am usually very circumspect about money and learning how to drive a car at 81 doesn’t exactly feel like good use of money, but to me this is an investment that will make me more self-reliant and better prepared to handle any emergencies.

Sure, I’ve crossed 80 and slowed down and frankly, am not very sure that I’ll soon be zooming around in a car but this is something I’ve wanted to do and now I’m doing it!

(The author is a long-time resident of Bengaluru and has been leading an active retired life after working for a public sector undertaking. He wishes to remain anonymous.)

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