The D.M.V.

As you all know, we have just moved back to North Carolina after a brief, yet very fruitful (family-wise), four year stint in Georgia.  Richard has been nagging me to get my license changed to an NC one for about two months.  Of course he did his the second day we were here.  I like my Georgia card, including the fact it displays my totally untrue weight proudly on the front.  Its funny because I thought my life was over when it was first printed, but now, two babies later and an additional 25 lbs, I would give my right arm to make that weight again.  Oh well, such is life.

I didn't realize the importance of changing over my license until I got the bill for the Georgia insurance on Saturday.  I was so confused, we live in North Carolina.  Richard explained, until I change my license, we are paying for insurance in two states.  Nothing gets me moving like money.  I decided my number one priority was getting a new license on Monday.

The kids have school on Monday so I have from 9:15 until 1 to take care of the NC license situation.  I properly wait until 11:45 to leave the house for the DMV that is across town (20 minutes) and not close to school (15 minutes).  The DMV is fast Richard tells me.

I get there at 12:05, with my social security card, my GA license, my $40 cash and my insurance card/proof of address.  I am number B334.  I hear B330 called over the intercom - can't be long now.  Then I look around and it is packed.  Why are there all of these people here?  I am only 4 people away from being called.  Wait...what's that...A129.  WHAT?  There are two sets of numbers?!  I have to leave by 12:40 to safely get to school and I don't know where I am going.  I wait.  A130 - A135 are called.  Then B331.  I can't figure out how this works.  So I am forced to wait patiently.  Its 12:30.  Ok, going to wait until 12:35.  Its 12:35 - I call Richard, he assures me it moves fast after I get called.  12:40 - B334.  Yes!

I flatter the lady and tell her what a good job she is doing and that I am so thankful for her patience with this huge crowd.  She smiles.  I'm in.

We go through a few questions and then she asks if I drive with glasses.  What?  Um, no. (but I should).  Where are my glasses I'm thinking as she wipes of the little thing that looks like something you used to get as party favors in the 5th grade where you looked into it and it showed pictures.  I am panicked.  Am I going to have to look in that and take an eye test?  I'm sweating.

She tells me to look into the eye thing and press down with my forehead.  Everything looks like a hieroglyphic.  Wait.  I can see the two columns on the right.  I did what any good American would do.  I totally ignored the one's on the left that I couldn't make out and just read the eight letters that I could see.  The nice DMV lady told me great, and then reminded me there was a column all the way on the left I was also supposed the read.  O.M.G.  Those are really letters?  What letters?  I have no idea.  I press my forehead again and make out some curves to which I proudly pronounced as Ohhhhdddd? Q and then made up the rest.  I am praying this is a % test.  Then she is like tell me what the signs are.  I'm like why did no one mention this part to me.  I could have been studying the signs the 35 minutes I was waiting to be seen.  And I then realized why everyone else was grabbing sign charts before sitting down.  I mean, I just did my best.  I definitely guessed on a few and told her that I just flat out didn't know what the plain yellow circle meant. 

I passed.  God Bless America.  Not sure if I really did or if it was the flattery at the start.  But I don't really care.  And I am going to get my eyes checked because if I had a hard time with the hieroglyphics at the DMV, its probably time for some glasses.

And yes, I was late to pick up the kids.  But only by two minutes, this entire event transpired within about 5 minutes, I got my "temp" card in about 2 and I was out of there at 12:48.  14 minutes later I was at the playground.