Driving the same road to work is still interesting, given the variety of custom license plates in town. These musings are from one such morning drive on a lavender jacaranda lined road, a few years back. I was reminded of it as I saw the vehicle again this summer!
As I like to on my way to work every day, this
morning I was scanning the license plates of the vehicles that were in sight.
This little game never fails to amuse me and often gets me thinking about more
interesting and sometimes philosophical things, than the mundane drive to work.
Today was especially profound. About a mile away
from home as I turned from the busy major thoroughfare, to a smaller street in
a residential area, I spotted a SUV on my left with a custom license
plate.
As I got closer, I read “ 1 KDNEY”. It was
profound and perplexing at the same time. Apparently the owner must have had
only one kidney. What was the story behind that? Was the owner a survivor of
some sorts and a grateful recipient of one kidney when both original ones had
failed? Was this their way of saying “Thank you, you saved my life”? Or
was it that he or she had donated one kidney, and hence was left with one which
was being proclaimed for all to see? It seemed ironical that someone would
advertise such a selfless deed.
The SUV veered off to the left as I continued my drive to work. The radio was on, but I didn’t hear anything for a few minutes as I collected my thoughts.
Later in conversation with a friend, my mind was opened to a perspective more generous in spirit. It could be that the owner was indeed a donor and wanted to bring about awareness. Maybe the public display would serve to inspire someone.
The rationale remains an enigma and I cannot assume to know the intentions of the owner of “1 KDNEY”. Who am I to judge, with multiple flaws, and having once owned a car that displayed a custom license plate?
~AK Irvinekar
Interesting introspection!