Driven to Distraction

Nothing is simple

5 years ago we studied 8 hours a day for an entire month to prepare ourselves for our Italian Drivers’ License. We passed the written portion of the test without any problems and then had to enroll in drivers’ training behind the wheel to learn the secrets of driving like an Italian. We passed that test too. Whew!

Autoscuola at Piazza Libertà

I keep a calendar of “events” that need to happen. Well, guess what needed to happen in November?! That’s right. We needed to renew our licenses. So we stopped by the Eurodrive Autoscuola, where we had done our original training. The young lady behind the desk wondered why we were there in October. “No, no. E troppo presto! It’s too early.” “Va bene la prima di novembre. It’s okay the first of November.”

Righty

Okay. You are no doubt wondering what it takes to renew the patente, license? We asked and the answer was a 3-part response. We’d need our old license along with our codice fiscale (the Italian version of a social security card). We’d need 95 euro each. And, this is the big one: A VISION TEST. Now this is the hard part of the process for a very simple reason. I am very nearsighted. I’ve worn “corrective lenses” for roughly 3/4 of my life. So what’s the big deal you might ask? The answer is: mono-vision. Years ago my trusty eye doctor prescribed a simple solution for someone nearsighted who wants to read, do needle work, or whatever: one lens. That’s right. I have an eye designated for distance and one that does close-up stuff. It actually works amazingly well. When I asked about driving, I was told that mono-vision is fine. So I’ve enjoyed wearing one contact lens, in my left eye only, for years. But in Italy, they don’t seem to care much about mono-vision. No. You just have to read the eye chart. I was nervous. My right eye is a speed reader with books, but graciously defers to my left eye for anything more demanding than say, farther away than arm’s length. Eye charts are always at least 10 feet away. My right eye began to cry. No way little Righty could pass a distance test. Oh, what to do . . .

My old glasses

Ah, yes. Glasses. I pulled them out of their hard shell case and Em immediately asked, “Where’d those come from?” I explained about my vision anxiety and that I needed to retrain Righty to see far away. “We HAVE to pass that test!” Not to drive in Italy is unheard of. Everybody here relishes the right to cut corners, stray left of center, and speed as though they are being pursued by angry wild boar. “I MUST renew my license!”

Hi-tech testing

Now, at this juncture, you may wonder how I originally passed the vision test. I had the same anxiety and forgot about wearing glasses, so I wore 2 contact lenses. Wow! Distance vision in both eyes! I could spot an owl in the dark at 100 meters, but I couldn’t see to button my sweater. Luckily, Em and I went in together and there, poised on a stool, was Sophia Loren‘s twin. This woman was too beautiful and very stylishly dressed. She immediately began flirting with Em. She asked him to read the chart. And I am not making this up: you cover one eye with your old driver’s license, while the “free eye” reads the chart. Then you switch. Card over the other eye, read the chart. Em’s distance vision is quite good, impressive, according to la Dottoressa, the lady doctor. She complimented him, smiling, chatting and flitting around the room.

The Big Test

Then it was my turn. Card up. Read. Okay. Switch. Card up. Read. I wasn’t sure that she cared about my vision, since she was still gazing into Em’s eyes at the time. But I passed, so what did I care?
But after 5 years, I was slightly worried. Righty could falter. I could go down in a tailspin after the first big E. But no! The glasses worked! I read the chart equally well with both Lefty and Righty. I was thrilled! Also, this year the la Dottoressa apparently had a prior engagement, so il Dottore put us through our paces.

I walked to the front counter and paid my 95 euro, while Em was at the mercy of il Dottore. Whew! What a relief! The young lady behind the counter told me that the new sticker would have to come from Rome—within the next couple of months. She asked if our information was all correct and current. Unfortunately, I had to tell her that the planning commission had changed our address. Same house, same everything—just a different street name and number. Nobody can explain why. So, yes, it’s a bit odd.

Center of the Universe

She looked stern. She informed me that we HAD to have the correct information on the new license and that would require a trip to the official office to get that approval. We made that visit the very  next day and were told that a second new sticker would be issued for our licenses—from Rome, in about 6 months. In the meantime, we’d have to carry proof that we’d applied for the changes. Righty began to cry.

You may also enjoy visiting our other websites:

The Journey – The Ride of a Lifetime

Under the Tuscan Thumb Blog by C & E

Uncommon Promise Story, Music and Art

New Music – Virtual CD

Uncommon Promise Video Channel

In Touch In Tuscany