I have been quite aware that with ageing, there is loss of muscle mass, that sense of balance deteriorates, there is loss of energy and that memory gets a bit fuzzy.
I thought I was prepared for all of the above and that I was actively countering each of them. I was doing my weight training and natural movements to help with the muscle gain and balance training to retrain and retain sense of balance. I was doing meditation and vitamin supplements ensuring good quality of sleep and playing PEAK ( a memory training game).
When I wrote the above paragraph, I couldn't help smiling at what a little warrior I am. An ageing one but still a little warrior.
I love that attitude. Doing the best I can to counter whatever cards I am dealt . And if my best is not good enough, accepting the cards in my hand. I was feeling quite pleased with myself when something happened that reminded me that I needed to have a bit more clarity between when to counter and when to accept.
I had lost my driving license some time back, and although someone on social media messaged me saying they had found it and that they would send it to me, it never happened. And I could not find the message in the melee of messages in my inbox and so I thought maybe it was a fake message and the license was lost after all. I applied for a duplicate and got one.
Then I went on my road trip . Some of you may have seen the videos I had made covering Pattiveeranpatty and Talayar Valley Bungalow. as part of my #UlaghamAnuAnuVaagha series.
At Talayar Valley Bungalow, I was checking in and I was asked for ID. I gave my ID to Jiyesh, the manager, and I distinctly recall telling myself to be mentally present, and not absent mindedly drop it somewhere, like I have done in the past. I recall taking it and putting it back in my wallet.
I come back home and ten days later I had to go to Hyderabad for work and my license is nowhere to be found. I check my purse - not there. I message Jiyesh and ask him to check if it has fallen in the room - it is not there. I check my suitcase and even my unused socks, it is not there!
And this was the duplicate license that I had applied and received not more than two months ago!
My first thought was what will the RTO think? second though was how can I ask the same person to get me yet another duplicate. Puppy shame. :)
So I did what every sensible person would do. I relegated it to the background and continued with life. :) :)
Until I could not postpone it any longer. At which point, (after I looked in a few more improbable places - like the fridge, ) I asked a friend to find me someone who can help get me a duplicate license. Different person of course, to save me the embarrassment. I was not looking forward to the RTO people's reaction but hey!one embarrassment at a time - we will cross that bridge when we come to it.
This morning, my friend messaged me, asking me to send two photos, my aadhar card copy and a copy of my license. I had the first two - but when I searched for the copy of my license , I realised I did not even have a copy of the newly issued license. My heart sank. This was going from bad to worse! I told him I was looking for the copy of the latest license and sat there pondering.
And then I had a brainwave - Jiyesh had taken a copy of my ID, he would have it! After all, that is the last time I thought I had seen my license. So I messaged Jiyesh asking him to send me a copy of the driving license he had taken.
And guess what the response was? "Ma'am you only gave me your aadhar card for registration. Not your license." And my inner voice went "what???"
Talayar valley bungalow was the only place that needed to see my ID for registration. They had been given Aadhar card . And I had never taken out my license anywhere else. So if my license was not in my purse, after the trip, it could only mean one thing - It was never there in the first place. Step aside Sherlock Holmes!
I felt hope surge in me. I scrambled to the cupboard where I keep the RC card copy and opened the pouch and voila! there it was ..my driving license!
I was delighted. I thanked Jiyesh and told him I had found my license. Then messaged my friend saying I had found my license and does he still want a copy :) :)
He sent back a face palm emoji . I grinned and replied "sorry for the trouble but you can thank me for the comedy" His response "goodnight" (it was 8 am) I smiled at that and sat there for a while savouring the relief.
As the grin faded my usual pensive thoughts floated back to the fore front. There was something to pay attention to. I had not realised that my confidence in myself was also deteriorating with age.
I was quick to assume I had lost my license because I did not trust myself . It was true that I had forgotten which ID I had given but I had preempted my absent mindedness and kept the license safe in the correct place. Hmmmm.....
So, NOW, I think I have to add one more to my list of things to work on as I age - a realistic perception of my own reliability. Read that again..pause ..see what I mean?
ah now that is going to be a big one :)
Did someone say little warrior?
