Five years ago, I took my written exam. I remembered a test that required reading the driver’s handbook, a long line at the DMV if one did not have an appointment, a paper test and an eye examination.
Thinking of that experience was very vivid. Five years seemed just a moment ago. I couldn’t believe it was that time again, surely they were mistaken. Not! Off I went to get my handbook for 2018.  I then called to set up an appointment and get in before my April birthday.  Nothing available for a month…Dates did not work for me.  I also found out that the test was on the computer with instant feedback if you missed a question.  I guessed there was no going back to revisit one of the trick questions. The test  freaked me out last time because you can have your license suspended if you miss more than three questions on three testing attempts.  High stakes.
I prepared by reading all 112 pages of the manual and jotted down all the numbers.  Headings of how many days, how many feet, what ages, what alcohol content, what speed, how much money it cost were listed.  I studied hard.
That morning of the test I awakened at 6 a.m. to review the numbers, dressed, no make-up and hurried to get to the DMV by 8 a.m. when it opens. People were already lined up outside who did not have appointments- like me.  Parking in the disabled spot and sporting my cane a DMV employee came running out to assist me and offered me a place indoors. I had no idea this service was available and was most pleased. Being prepared meant having my $35 and $2 to support organ donation, my passport, my Social Security card, my proof of residence and my patience. I was applying for my Real ID. My Real ID will allow me to pass a TSA checkpoint at airports nationwide and visit a secure federal building or military installations at any time.  That is where I got to slow down.
For those of you that caught the trailer for “Zootopia,” you may remember the meeting of the rabbit and the fox with the DMV sloths. Well, need I say more? The gal who went through my extensive materials to allow me a Real ID had a lot to do.  She needed to look at my passport, my Social Security card and my proof of residence. She needed to make copies of the papers. Since I paid cash for my test fee and donation, she needed  to go to Canarsie to get some change.  Then clutching the bills in her palm, she needed to sort the one five, one ten and five ones, open her cash drawer and place the bills properly in their slots.  Oh, then she had to peel off three dollars for my change.  Sorting the pages of the copied material meant another review and stamping each page with the date, then another review.  Then moving on to my eye test and my covering each eye even though one of my eyes is for close work and one for distance lead to some question about my passing even though I can see 20/20 with both eyes.
I doubt you read the preceding paragraph in its entirety unless you suffer from slothism.
Onward I went, not discouraged because I now had the words Real ID to cross off my to do list.  Test ahead, I asked for the paper copy so that I could easily leave out the tricky ones and go back need be. After deciding which way my wheels needed to point, what the blood level was allowed for people over 21was and various and sundry facts I preceded to the checkpoint. The grader said, “You passed with flying colors.”
I passed. Why I could not let go of question No. 8, is beyond me.  For two days I asked anyone who would listen how they would have answered this question. Here goes: “ A pedestrian is standing on the curb waiting to cross. You are in your car when the light turns green.”
The choices I remember of the three are:

A. The pedestrian has the right of way.
B.
C. You proceed through the green light.

I answered “C.”  Many of my friends said “A.”  I called my daughter who works at the DMV and she said “C” was the answer. I still think “A” is also correct. What a dilemma!
I guess that passing with flying colors means I got them all correct. However, I never got to see my exam after the grader did his job. I thought I saw his pencil make some marks on my answer sheet. I saw him flip by the pages. I will never know my score. He threw my test into the trash bin.
Maybe I will get past this trauma in a few weeks, but being retired and becoming my own rendition of slothism,  this ordeal was noteworthy.  Just know that you too will persevere and be allowed to drive another day and that is definitely worth the obstacles.

Ellen Blaufarb is a marriage family therapist.

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