Well, my Learner's Permit actually...

Until a few months ago... this was Theoretical....

To those of you who don't know me... you're probably thinking, "Big Deal"...

To those of you who DO know me, you're probably thinking, "WTF?"

Let me fill in the "blanks"...

I'm 37 years old... Never had a license... Until a few months ago, I was "legally blind"...

I went to the eye doctor a couple months back... I hadn't been in like 5 years and needed a new prescription for my contact lens... So after testing my good eye, the doctor told me, "You're doing pretty good, you have 20/60 in your good eye"... I about fell out of my chair... I never thought it was that good... and after learning that, I did some research... in FL, I would need better than 20/70 in my good eye and better than 20/200 in my weaker eye.... Well, I haven't worn any lens in my weaker eye for years and it is low vision... so we started ordering lenses (and there were not too many to chose from at the magnification I needed), but on the 4th one, it fit good and the vision was brought to 20/120...

Today I left the doctor's office with a signed FL DMV form that says I meet the requirements to get my license... or learner's permit for a year first

I'm still in disbelief... I have told many people, but have not told my father... he is coming to visit in a couple months and I want to surprise him...

I've always loved cars... and electronics... Kitt has been my dream car... I always knew I didn't see as well as everyone else, but it didn't really hit me until age 14 or so when I realized, my friends are going off to drive and I'm gonna stay on my bike.... It has affected so many parts of my life.... & while I tell you it ate at my soul for a few years, I got over it... Not that I still didn't think about it.... But I never thought the day would come...

& here I am...

To clarify, 20/20 is "normal vision"...
My 20/60 means if you had 20/20, you would have to be 60 feet from an object to see what I see @ 20/60...

I can finally drive my Kitt....

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2421147

Thanks to all the wonderful people I've dealt with on this board and those who have graciously shared their knowledge with me... Long live ThirdGen.Org!

Rafael

 

Congratulations, thats awesome. Have fun tearing up the streets!!!

 

Very cool! Congrats!

 

congrats!

 

That's awesome man!!! Good luck and be safe.

 

thats great news! Best of luck to you, i hope things work out and soon you will be on the road!

 

WAY TO GO!!!!

Between my cornea transplants & dead muscles that move the eyeball (my right was LOCKED as far left as it could possibly go for awhile) I have some understanding, of your bad vision. And not being able to drive from 2004-2007, I feel your pain.

I got my licenses at 16, but at about 18, my eyesight went so bad, so fast, the Dr. couldn't believe it was the same eyes.


You'll finally get to drive your KITT! Get your license & surprise your dad with a car ride....."I'll drive Dad." Imagine the look on his face, when you pull out your license!

Momentous day man.....CONGRATS AGAIN!

Think of all your mod $ that will be going into the gas tank now though!

 

Congrats, I'm happy for you! I agree that you should tell your dad that you are driving, that would be cool.

The only thing I disagree with, is drive safely. Go find a big parking lot with no cars and see what kind of burnouts and crazy 8's you can do. But yeah, on the street, look out, you don't want some dumb kid to hit your car.

 

wow congrats! i bet your really excited, good luck out there and like what everyone else stated, be safe out there on the road there is a lot of bad drivers out in the road . . .


btw... nice car!

 

Awesome dude. Congrats on being able to drive. That kitt can now get to see the wide open road.

 

Congrats!! Now get that thing on the road!

 

thats great man,hope u have fun and becarful =]

i got mine when i was 18 then last year i tore my retina(sp) in half and had to have to lasered back together in my left eye,i had 20/10 vision before that.....i have side vison to i just learned to really watch my mirrors,but im still very carefull bout merging and such...but u finnaly get used to it...now i dont harly notice my eye problem.

but anyways

have fun man,

 

Hey man i know what your going through, i'm only 20, but until about 6 month's ago, my vision was corrected to 20/125 in my good eye, and now i can see, so congrats man and be safe, there are alot of retarded people on the road, one of the easiest ways to figure it out is to count the imports, then add a few for the half-retarded people who drive domestics

 

Awesome! Have fun man!

 

thats awesome man i cant imagine the excitement. be safe and have fun.

 

Things like this are great to hear, big congrats to you! Go enjoy it!!

 

Yes, ask any of my friends, I'm very careful and and have saved many people from accidents for stuff I saw they didn't...

I remember growing up a friend of mind came down form NY every summer & his aunt had a new bike she let him ride... Well, he would let me ride it sometimes & she would say, "hey that blind kid is gonna wreck that new bike"! He would argue, "well, since he doesn't see as well, he'll be more careful"... I always thought, I don't have to see a person picking their nose to tell you there is a car there...

I just never thought this would ever happen.... Not being able to drive has affected so many aspects of my life & now it's like starting a new...

Rafael

 

Congrats! I had no idea you couldn't drive and I've seen your posts all over the forum. It really puts your dedication to cars in perspective when I realize you've spent all this time and effort when you couldn't even drive it.

Enjoy your drive. You've certainly earned it.

 

What a story. I feel like I want to write a book about this.

-Take care

 

Im crazy happy for you man! Got mine a few months ago and I don't know what I would do without it. Just hoping my eyes don't go any worse, seeing that im only 16 i wish they would stay the way they are. =/
But get out there and be safe!

 

Very heart warming story. I am very happing for you. Honestly. I don't post much, but I've been lurking for a LONG time. You've brought me out of the woodwork. Have fun. YOU DESERVE IT!!!

 

Great to hear that luvofjah! I've been hanging in the forums for a while and along the way did pick up you couldn't drive (well that you were legally blind). Its really great you can drive and have fun and experience the pleasure of driving and having your car breakdown on the side and being able to fix it...haha! kidding kidding. But seriously, I say enjoy being able to drive and hopefully you can start coming out to meets here in the Southeast and have fun with your Fbody brothers...

 

LOL i agree! If you know a local cop really good have him come out there so you don't get your first "unreasonable acceleration" ticket

 

Congrats man that is great, enjoy it!

 

Thanks Everyone! I was tying up some paperwork, getting a new copy of my birth certificate, passing the 4 hour Drug & Alcohol course... I have an appointment with DMV Monday July 20th, 8 AM for my learner's Permit A friend is comming over later that day and the first car I will drive with a learner's permit will by me Kitt car...

If I could tell you the times I've sat in that car at the edge of the driveway wanting to go and go... Monday I will be able to

Rafael

 

A 4hr drug and alcohol course? Why??? Is that madatory for every new driver in FL?

 

Yep... If you're under 18, you can take your 40 question Road Rules & Signs exam on line... over 18, gotta go in to the DMV...??

Raf

 

Thats crazy...shouldn't it be other other way around?

 

I agree, but I don't make the rules....

As for the Alcohol and Drug Course...

"if you have never held a regular driver license in any state, country, or jurisdiction, you must complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course before applying for a temporary driving permit (restricted driver license) in the state of Florida. The driver education courses offered by some county school boards may substitute for this requirement. Please contact your local school board for further information."

 

oh well, either way good luck!

 

best of luck to you, its really great that you can finally get to enjoy your project

 

wow dude, I cannot even imagine going through what you have. I know how important cars and driving were to me growing up (and still are) and how long it seemed to take to turn 16. After finding this thread I went and searched some more of your posts. My hat's off to you my friend, enjoy your new found freedom.

 

Great story! Although it doesnt directly pertain to the scope of this board...