I could not wait to turn 16 years old. Growing up, 16 was the magic birthday that allowed a person to get a driver’s license. I had learned to drive on the farm and was more than ready to get that license since I had had the learner’s permit since the day I turned 14. A license meant freedom to not rely on my parents or other friends to take me to after-school activities and 4-H meetings in Cedar Rapids. People have different hallmarks in their lives that represent a rite of passage and turning 16 was one of two major events in my life.
A rite of passage is an event that marks a person’s transition from one life stage to another. These changes are often social in nature. Rites of passage for distinct cultures have been around for centuries. The right to drive was paramount in rural Iowa. Although I am sure it was not evident to me at the time, it symbolized a new sense of responsibility and belonging. I had to act more like an adult than a child.
Although graduations, marriages, or birth of the first child might be significant passages for some people, the other significant milestone for me was turning 62 so I could get a lifetime senior pass for National Parks (and other fee based national lands). Having that pass did not change my life like the driver’s license did, but it was important knowing that a privilege of my age was that I would always have access to the National Parks.
I often thought I was the only one who felt that turning 62 was a passageway until recently when two of my younger friends celebrated their age entitlement for a park pass. Both went directly to a nearby National Park upon turning 62 to get this coveted badge. I am glad this privilege did not change over time with the number of baby boomers becoming eligible.
The park pass represents a coming-of-age validation. It symbolizes celebrating aging as a positive thing. It shows how much I appreciate and value federal public lands.
I suspect death will be the next major transition. I have no idea what the afterlife will be and whether I can write about it. For now, I am just grateful that I have had these two important markers in my life.