![\"driving-rainy-night-260x188\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/driving-rainy-night-260x188.jpg?resize=260%2C188\")
It’s a sad fact that we’re all getting older. Our youthful enthusiasm to try new things, hang out late, and no fear… well, becomes “less enthusiastic.”<\/p>\nIt’s a sad fact that we’re all getting older. Our youthful enthusiasm to try new things, hang out late, and no fear… well, becomes “less enthusiastic.”<\/p>\n
I had an eye-opening, frightful, first-time experience of this aging thing the other night. Damn, it’s hard to realize that what happened could definitely be a result of getting older.
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\nOn Tuesday night, I had an experience that jolted me into a different reality and way of thinking. <\/p>\n
I attended a meeting of the guys (and gals) who lead motorcycle rides for my club. The meeting was held in a restaurant in a densely-over-developed part of my county, about 12 miles away from my home. As the roads go (and avoiding an overly-expensive tollway), the drive would take about 35 minutes (provided there were no traffic delays). While I don’t like that neighborhood, I have been there dozens of times, so I thought I knew how to get there. To calm my concerns, I even looked at a map and made sure that I knew exactly where to go. But I didn’t bring my GPS — I didn’t want any kind of distractions (bad move on my part, in retrospect.)<\/p>\n
It was raining, sometimes hard-pelting and wind-driven. It was hard to see. I planned more time for my trip. Glad I did.<\/p>\n
A little background also will help put this into perspective. I am “navigationally-challenged.” That means that I can’t find my way out of a box. I get lost easily. Even in sunny, dry weather — it is not unusual for me to take a wrong turn and drive for miles out of my way. It does not take much to throw me off. If I miss a landmark, do not see a street sign, or go on instinct rather than directions, I often find myself wandering all over the place.<\/p>\n
While driving (my truck) on Tuesday night — in the dark and in wind-driven rain — I set myself up for disaster. I was paying such close attention to my driving and the other drivers around me that I missed landmarks, street signs, and turns. Eventually I ended up near the destination, but could not find it. I called someone at the meeting and he gave me more specific directions to get there. I arrived, a bit shaken, but on time (because I left home 30 minutes earlier due to the weather.)<\/p>\n
When I left the meeting (which was not over, but it was my time to leave as I must be home by 9pm lest I turn into a pumpkin)… I knew where I was and where I was going. Or so I thought.<\/p>\n
I drove along, found major roads, but somehow, someway, I made a wrong turn and discovered that I was headed west instead of south and if I continued, I would be way off course. (As they say in my state, “if you get to the river, you’ve gone too far.”)<\/p>\n
I turned around and took a different route, using an interstate highway for a short part, but I knew that route very well. I arrived home to the arms of my fiance a bit bedraggled and tired, but unharmed. <\/p>\n
… at least physically unharmed. But my psyche was shaken to my core.<\/p>\n
I am having a serious self-debate about limiting my driving. At least in the dark and in bad weather. I have noticed over the past few years that I have been reluctant to drive my Harley in the dark. When I noticed that, I went to my eye doctor for a checkup. He said that my eyes are fine and my vision is good (20\/20 distance.)<\/p>\n
Thus begin the challenges of aging. Blecch. But I know that my peripheral vision is narrower, and my visual acuity is not as good as it once was, particularly distinguishing signs and road markings in the dark.<\/p>\n
Life is short: come to the realization that you have to accept reduction in capabilities with aging.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It’s a sad fact that we’re all getting older. Our youthful enthusiasm to try new things, hang out late, and no fear… well, becomes “less enthusiastic.” I had an eye-opening, frightful, first-time experience of this aging thing the other night. … Continue reading