Tad's Life

But then my driver's license was stolen. To get a new one I needed to get my eyes examined by a real ophthalmologist. Which got me thinking about the legal issues and all...

But I am cheap.

Really cheap.

The idea of spending $200 on glasses just hurts my soul. That's why I had been going without. My Hampton ancestors came from Scotland and I proudly claim the frugality of my genes. So, what could I do?

But then I heard from my niece about a discount eyeware chain and, inspired, I went looking on line. "Two pairs for $70" one said. I was hooked. And so, you see me know with a pair of $40 glasses, shipping and all. Combine that with a $40 exam and I'm a very happy scrooge!

The second amazing thing was the morning before Rodney handed me these glasses, Vivat came with the mail and there was my new Ohio driver's license. It even had a photo from their data base in Columbus. What a marvel. What an answer to prayer

Now, you may think I'm being a bit over dramatic, but I had given up all hope of ever seeing this document. I applied in late June and have been driving ever since under the flimsy legality of my copy of that application. In Ohio I'm sure that would stand up, but here? The Lord protected me from run-ins with policemen checking papers all that time, but I must say that I had moments of fear. Just Sunday we dropped Jonathan off at a birthday party downtown. As we continued on Jane asked me to drive through a particularly public area. I had just explained my desire to "slip out of town" when a policeman stepped out into the road and pulled me over. "Title and driver's license, please," he said. We greeted in Wolof and I handed him the title. He tested our language a bit with glee and asked, "Peace Corps?" "Evangelical missionary, " I explained. "Oh, well then. Never mind, " he smiled and sent us on. Oh my word, my heart was racing. We said thank you to God and laughed a bunch at our own foolishness.

But I had been in contact with the office in Columbus. Missy Tenant there had been very, very helpful at the beginning, when it was stolen. She sent me an application and answered all my questions. But when two months had gone by, I wrote back asking if there were some delay. She assured me that the license had been issued and mailed on July 5th! I am in awe of that efficiency. But now what was I to do. Was the license stolen again? Was it on its way back from Suriname or Dhaka, Bangladesh or somewhere else? Was it on a slow boat, doing the surface mail trek? She encouraged me to be patient and I tried. But on my list on Tuesday was to contact Missy. And there it was in my hand. The envelope post marked July 5th. Written in hand was "air mail." Where had it been? I certainly don't know.

A third amazing thing happened this week. My 12 year-old boy decided that he really needed help seeing, too, and he pushed and pulled until he got reluctant, miserly Dad to take him for an exam and then to buy glasses. He's been really noticing problems in class seeing the board and all. So here he is with his lime green frames (and a haircut).

Stylish, isn't he!?

Father and son in glasses. And mother, of course. Oh, and sisters. And grandparents. And cousins... Genetics is amazing.