My GREAT day..

[SoCalDem]

As some of you already know, I have some serious eye problems, and it finally happened.. The dreaded letter from the DMV , telling me that I would have to go IN and get a new picture and eye test in order to get my license renewed.

on the back of the form was the check box that said ..."Has your vision changed significantly since your last renewal?"..

I had to check the box, and immediately called for an emergency appointment with my othpalmologist. he has always assured me that corrected vision in one eye is perfectly acceptable, and I was ok to drive.

So.. DMV day arrives and of course , I failed the eye test in my bad eye (20/400something).. Then they announce that I must take an actual DRIVING test..

Last time I did that I was 16, and I failed twice :scared:.. 1st failure involved me backing over a mailbox while trying to parallel park on a hill :grr:
2nd failure involved a quite sudden stop when I realized that only I had the blinking red light on the highway they took me to :eyes:

Since I got my license in 1966, I have had exactly ONE ticket and no chargeable accidents, and am a very courteous and careful driver.

Yesterday my friend and I went (I needed moral support), and I PASSED..

whew..

I have to do it every two years, but at least I know I CAN overcome the jitters and pass the damned thing..

I am glad that California is on top of things, because if I thought I was a danger to myself or others, I would turn in my license in a heartbeat..

[REP]

1. Coolarooni!

Great news! Good to know you can continue to chauffeur the kitties (and oh yeah, continue an independent existence). :thumbsup:

[Awsi Dooger]

2. Awesome, SoCalDem!

That is a great day:)

I got a kick out of your description since it was somewhat similar to my driving history. I failed my first attempt as a kid due to parallel parking, backing smack into a pole in the first aspect of the test.

Then as an adult I had to retest when I moved to Nevada and my Florida license had lapsed. I thought it was a piece of cake, but the tester indicated I barely passed since I drove straight past a stop indicator on the grounds of the test center, in the first 50 feet of the test!

You're right, next time will be easier.

[SoCalDem]

4. I brushed the curb as I exited the testing center

said .."SHIT".. the guy was cool.. he said.. "calm down, you're ok "..
I was afraid he would say, "let's go back, you're done"..

:)

[In_The_Wind]

3. I'm glad everything worked out for you!

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. Congrats SoCal!!! Great news!

I could not imagine the stress you had to be going through. Glad to hear all went well! :hi: It's good to see you. I miss your posting.

[sbj405]

6. Good news and thanks for reminding me I need to renew

The paperwork got buried on my desk. :think:

[miss_american_pie]

7. Congrats!

:woohoo:

[nuxvomica]

8. Congratulations!

Back in the day, I took my driving test 5 times before success. One failure was due to driving through a stop sign and another was because I scraped a park car while parallel parking. So I really appreciate your accomplishment. Incidentally, both my eyes are 20/400, even when I was a teen-ager.

[SoCalDem]

9. How did they correct your vision enough to drive?

My right eye is "uncorrectable" due to cataracts from the eye-disease medicine.. The crazy part is that removal of the cataracts might cause the uveitis to recurr, causing the NEED for more meds that cause cataracts.. talk about a vicious cycle..

When this thing flares up (both eyes, but the left eye is still correctable with glasses), I literally cannot focus on anything..It's the craziest thing..I can go to bed seeing, and wake up...not :scared:..

[nuxvomica]

13. My nearsightedness, though extreme, is correctable

I wear bifocals that also adjust for an astigmatism. Other than these focusing issues, my eyes are very healthy. Have you ever looked into alternative medicine for this condition? It might be worth a try if you haven't.

[SoCalDem]

14. I am kind of afraid to, since I only have one "good" eye

and without constant vigilance, I could end up with zero.. It it gets out of control, they could have to remove the eye itself..:scared:

I am too afraid to try something other than "tried and true"

[billyskank]

10. Well done!

:)

[ThomCat]

11. Congratulations!

I'm sorry about the bad eyesight. I guess a lot of us empathize with that.

But it's awesome that you got your license renewed despite that.

I've never had a license and I never intend to have one. I'd be a threat on the road.

[SoCalDem]

12. My ophalmologist insists (tand the DMV concurs) that it's

ok.. I was ready to give it up if necessary. I never drive on the freeway and it takes me about 6 weeks to go through a tank of gas in my car, but it's nice to be able to go somewhere if I need to..

[livetohike]

15. Way to go SoCalDem

:toast: :thumbsup: