The Bologna Blog

DMV

I stood in line with a man at the DMV, along with 30 other desperate souls. Birthdays, alone, are the rusty reminder of coffin nails hammering in your direction but the government likes to gift you of reminders that with advancing age your sight might be failing or that you may be safer riding a bicycle. This was the year of such a bountiful present enclosed within my mailbox. Being the responsible citizen and vibrant cranky old fart that I am I chose, to comply to the laws of the land. A vision test was all that was required of me to ascertain my renewal. I must tell you, proudly, that because of my stupendous driving record I have not been required to step one foot inside of a DMV for myself in over twenty -four years. I have been allowed to phone it in with my debit card, so to speak.No testing needed!

I was worried enough about the test that I actually googled vision tests given at the driver's license bureau. A normal person would just have their eyes checked,but i'm a little spunky and a little bit vain.I decided to just wing it. I was informed that a certain DMV in our area was always quick and easy to get into quickly. I apparently chose the wrong day to try this. There were over 35 people squished into a luncheonette-sized box waiting to jump through the necessary hoops to achieve their prize. Only two individuals resided behind the counter and it was clearly approaching the lunch hour. They were a bit snippy. "Do not step beyond this line" was heard often from the hungry and overworked ladies of the DMV. I waited somewhat patiently for 2 hours in an uncomfortable chair squeezed between strangers. one of which had definitely spent the previous two hours in the hot sun repelling any deodorant placed earlier that morning in the near confines of his armpits. Luckily, the other gentleman was a hoot. His whispered commentary on the scene playing out in front of us, made for a pleasant experience. He made me laugh and forget about the stress of the vision test awaiting me.

I passed the test and left with my paper license in hand, with the real one to be sent to me in approximately 15 business days. On my way home I thought about the man that I had met. Here was a man who managed to lighten the mood for many of us. He was living in the moment and managing to enjoy the mundane tasks of life. He was at all times polite and respectful. He waited patiently and was jovial with all of us. I vowed to take a page from his book and enjoy every moment granted. Even if the DMV continues to remind me that I am an old piece of flatulence. I will now sit patiently by my mailbox for the Bell Tone hearing aid coupons and enticements.