Want to hear the continuation of how we handled “taking away” the car keys from my 88-year-old father?
One clue is we never had to “go there”. And, I knew we would not have to, in the end.
Even though he gave no outward indication of inner knowing about his devolving driving capability, my Dad did actually realize he was no longer at the top of his game. He just wouldn’t admit it directly, as that would have blown his stellar-driver cover.
Let them save face.
In fact, after about March 2011, my father basically did not get behind the wheel again.
He claimed he was just waiting “until things settle down a bit.” Then, he would experiment by spinning his two cars around the block “to make sure they’re in working order.” He simply needed to trot out these weary phrases to soothe his wounded pride.
Nonetheless, being a totally Un-cope-able Parent, we had to go through a whole harangue to unwind his initial ill-fated intentions.
There was never an easy surrender when it came to my father. Are you kidding???
You’ll need some “schemes” of your own.
Like every one of my other hard-won “conquests”, I had to plot out an elaborate game plan. Want to know what I did?
One of my main steps was to call my father’s insurance carrier behind his back to obtain facts and details! For a merciful nanosecond, I thought we’d stopped him in his tracks. I should be so lucky!
Once we discovered he was considered an active driver with the Ministry of Transportation until his October 2012 birthday, it was back to the drawing board.
What my father didn’t bargain on yet anyone who knows me can confirm – I’m most definitely his daughter in the strong-willed department. He met his match.
Watch out for red herrings!
Still, I must concede ingenious credit to the man for finding numerous countervailing strategies when we sat down to talk!
He stumped me a few times by trying to throw in “arguments” having more to do with home than vehicular insurance. Man, can these old folks be clever when they want to!
Almost diverted off-course, I think the Angels were on my side. We managed to skate past the renewal crisis.
And, had he uttered another peep about this topic, I would have been on him like a duck on a June bug. For, my father was becoming a hazard. NEVER would I have risked his or others’ lives in the name of protecting his vanity.
Carol-Ann Hamilton
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