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Fun at the DMV
Because I put things off until the very last minute, today was the day that I had to go the motor vehicles registry to renew my license. Happy Birthday to me. The registry wasn’t at all crowded today, so my number was called within 10 minutes of walking through the door. I had visions of some glitch or another popping up, but the process was easy. Until the eye exam.
I had to read the top row of letters as presented through the stereo ocular piece. No problem. I read them right off.
Then the woman said, “What about the rest of them?”
“What rest of them? I asked. “That’s all there are.”
“No,” she said, “there’s another box of letters to the right. Read them for me.”
“I don’t see another box of letters to the right. It’s all dark over there.”
“Oh,” she said. “You must have a weak right eye.”
“No, I don’t,” I said. “The light is out over there.”
“Well,” she said, “I’ve been doing this for twelve years and I can assure you that the light isn’t out.”
I could feel the panic start to rise. There was just no way I was going to walk out of there without my license. No. Way. (Please please, please God!)
I went back to stand in front of her desk and, as nicely as possible, I asked her if she would please look through the thing. The light was out. Really, truly. Out, out, out. She wasn’t inclined to want to do it, but she seemed to sense that I was going to have a melt down if she didn’t. So she did. And said, “Oh my gosh, the light is out.”
Whew!
She decided that she’d take it on faith that I’m not actually blind in my right eye.
License renewal granted.
Then it was time for the photograph. Oh my word. At least she gave me a few pictures from which to choose. Digital photography is convenient in these matters. I settled for the second photo. The first caught me by surprise and the third and fourth got progressively worse. I now have the perfect mug shot on my drivers license. All it lacks is the prisoner number. It’s not a studio portrait, that’s for sure.
“What a horrible picture,” I said.
“It’s a lot better than most,” she said. “You wouldn’t believe.”
Yes, I would.
By the time I got back to my car, I’m pretty sure that I did look as horrible as the photo on my shiny new license. Wilted beyond measure. I hate going to the motor vehicle registry. I really do.
Ok, well I did this on the previous post but I want to make sure you see it.
Happy Birthday
and I wish you had told me you were in my neck of the woods! we could have had coffee or something!
Why thank you, J. And I don’t even feel as old as dirt today. I forgot to take my phone with me or I’d have called you. In fact, I’d intended to do that. I could have used a cup of coffee and a friendly face after that ordeal. 
well I probably could have used more than you today. Things have been um, lets say eventful, with a certain teenager in this house. Jeese o’pete!
Uhhh-oh......
Happy Birthday!
Last time I took the eye exam I had trouble with the right eye as well. Unfortunately there was nothing wrong with the mechanism; fortunately they just put a right-side mirror requirement on my license and allowed me to go.
I haven’t driven a car without a passenger-side mirror in 20+ years, so that didn’t seem like much of a hardship.
Happy birthday to you!
Hey, you actually did a birthday post this year. I’m impressed! I always remember your birthday, since it’s the same day as Stephanie’s, but I’ve felt awkward leaving a greeting here some years when you haven’t mentioned the day yourself. Too polite for my own good, perhaps. ;)
Anyway, DMV experience aside, I hope that you’re having a wonderful day!
Thanks, Linkmeister.
I think it’s about time the DMV upgrades those eye exam things. They’re scratched and dirty and dim. I don’t know how any of us pass it.
I was afraid they’d demand that I go get my glasses. Trouble is, I have reading glasses for up close. I’m far sighted. And that’s the trouble. If I took the exam with my glasses, I think they’d require glasses for driving and my reading glasses would be useless for driving. But, in any case, I saw well enough to pass the part of the test that was actually lit. I had to squint plenty, though.
Thank you, Eleanor. And a Happy Birthday to Stephanie, too!
You can yell out any time. Sometimes I post about it, sometimes not. A trip to the DMV is too exciting not to post about, though. 
The only other exciting thing I’ve done today is go buy myself a birthday present. Somewhat practical, but I’m thrilled to death with them...a pair of welding gloves so I don’t burn any more fingers or wrists in the wood stove. I’ve semi-removed one fingerprint in the last week. Happiness is a pair of welding gloves.
I feel bad. I really wanted to come over so we could do something! I tried calling you on Tuesday so we could but you never answered on either one of the phones lol. I had a feeling I was going to be tied up with a couple of teenagers on Wednesday. As I was. (also I was out and about and those days are very far and few between)
I did get my surgery date yesterday. Woo hoo! It’s Feb 11 @ 12:30. And it will be at the AJ. I will probably be there for at least 4 days I would imagine. The kids go on vacation just as I will be getting out. I haven’t decided if that is a good thing or not yet LOL.
I’m sorry, J. My house phone is dead. It’s the wiring outside as near as I can tell. Comcast is supposed to come over next week to fix it. And I was out communing with my wood pile for a few hours on Tuesday. It took a long time to finally chop my way into it. The tarp was frozen solid under the drifts of snow that had turned to ice and I had a devil of a time getting is loose. By the time I caught up with my messages, you were probably in bed.
The other J is having surgery up at AJ on the 11th, too. Just one day outpatient, though. I’ll be driving her up and back. I’ll be able to come up and see you, too. If any of your gang wants to hang out here, they’re welcome. And I do have a nice shiny new spare bedroom with a Playstation2 for anyone interested. ;)
I apologize for being a day late with birthday greetings, Kate. Geeze, the right day is noted right there on my calendar at home, but I just didn’t look at it in the last couple of days.
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
P.S. All set for Super Duper Tuesday?
Thank you, N. Not to worry. Really. You’ve just made my birthday last two days instead of one. I think that’s a good thing, right?
I am as ready for Super Tuesday as possible at this moment. I am teetering on the edge of a decision, but it won’t be official until I mark the X on the ballot. I’m not overwhelmed by any of the choices, but excited that it’s one step closer to the door hitting GW in the butt on the way out. One day, maybe, I’ll be able to vote FOR someone enthusiastically, without one single reservation.
I am so not ready for Tuesday. I really have no clue who I am voting for. Like you, I’m not so thrilled with the choices.
On the other thing..... Thank you very much for the offer. The kids will be in school. I think it would be best for them. I don’t want them hanging out worrying. It is going to take at least four hours. And thats if they don’t have any problems with the one that has wrapped it’s self on part of my spine. E might like some company though! What time is J’s ?and what is she having done now????? Poor woman! E will have my cell with him I am sure. Hopefully I will see you before then lol.