Driving

Today was my wedding anniversary.

I spent it at the DMV getting an Oregon drivers license. It was a serious hoot.

I have a license. I love my license. I don't love the DMV. I don't love taking tests. I really don't love being in the DMV talking the "knowledge" test. First I read the driver's manual. I now can quote the speed limit on alley ways, driving on the beach, and what to do if my hood flies open.

I now can point out when deer may be crossing, what to do if I see a blind man, and how far my load can extend past the front of my hood. Also, in Oregon my license allows me to drive a fire truck or an ambulance. I'm telling you the benefits of this state ROCK. I am SO going to get me a fire truck. It's legal and I intend to enjoy that perk, especially the siren.

I brought in all the pertinent paperwork, old drivers license, passport, mail with my current address, birth certificate, cash (no bank cards here!), yep, I was prepared. No, I wasn't. I have misplaced my ORIGINAL social security card, you know the one from the DARK AGES WHEN THEY GAVE IT TO ME, so nope no license for me. I did however, get a lovely piece of paper surrounded with a lot of yellow highlighted areas telling me what to do in this case. #1 - bring in Social Security Card, geez! why didn't I think of that. My Oregon Health card, hello, no license yet, I'm pretty sure I don't even know what the Oregon Health card is. My military record, Nope. Finally, one of them was a tax document, fine, I may have that one.

The kid wasn't faring much better. He at least had his Social Security Card, his mail to his current address, his license, and he didn't have his passport. Ok, we both had to head home.

First we got to take the knowledge test. We both passed. Guess which one of us did better than the other? Clue: It is not the one having a glass of wine tonight.

We headed home, collected some more documents and headed back to the DMV. Received our licenses. Know why I am having a glass of wine tonight?

Because I thought I heard the man say "don't look happy until after the flash." When in actuality he said "look happy until the flash." Yep, I am standing straight faced looking very deranged and wanted in my photo. I seriously look stoned. *Sigh* This is my photo for the next bunch of years. I'm pretty sure, I will always get a ticket and I lay odds that my mug photo will end up looking so much better.

The kid. . . oh, he looks fabulous. It is good to be young and have good hearing. Especially at the DMV.