And it’s a big missing something… A drivers license.
Wait. Whuh?
So here’s the thing, I don’t have a drivers license. Yes, I am aware that it is a huge right of passage in almost every young persons life to earn the right to get behind the wheel of a moving mechanical behemoth, but I happened to miss out on this particular ritual. And really, growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area (particularly San Francisco/Oakland) where public transportation is plentiful, I never really felt the need. Not to mention I was a ‘closet hippie’ in high school (because kids, and some adults for that matter, can be so unnecessarily cruel) so I didn’t want to contribute to the pollution of Mama Earth.
That’s no longer the case. Well, I mean, I still don’t want to dirty up Mama Earth, but I can’t really drive an RV, or a truck to tow my tiny home without a license, can I? Ok, technically I can, but I’m trying to be a good upstanding citizen here! So I’ll just offset that eco-indiscretion by making my future mobile home as eco-friendly as possible! But that’s a post for another day.
Yesterday I had the entire morning off. So I trekked over to the local DMV office just after dark o’clock in hopes of being one of the very first in line! The office opens at 8am. I got there at 7:30am… I was NOT the first in line. Yeesh.
Here’s how the morning went… I waited in line outside. I waited in line inside. I was given a form to fill out. I jockeyed for position on the smallish “long” table with the other form-filler-outers and wrestled for one of the few pens on the table. I finished filling out the form. I got back in line. I got a number. I waited again. But this time I got to sit in uncomfortable chairs the color of dried blood with graffiti tagged all along the backs. I watched the loverly TV screen that occasionally displayed sample test questions, secretly patting myself on the back for answering them all correctly. I bobbed my head along to the music coming from the hidden boom box of the older gentleman seated next to me. My number was called. I made the long walk all the way to the opposite side of the office to window 27. The kind lady looked through my form and made sure I was all set to take the test. All there was left to do before I subjected myself to my usual cold sweats of test taking, was pay the fee. It cost $32 to take the test. What??? Yikes. I looked through my wallet. I didn’t bring enough cash. So I pulled out my debit card. She swiped the card. I entered my pin. I thought, “Finally. I can get this RV party started.”… DECLINED.
Whuh?
We tried again. Same deal. I was pouting hardcore now. We tried one more time. Still declined.
Blargh! My pin didn’t work!!
So, I was forced to make an appointment for the following morning at 9:50 am. Oh, well. At least my adventure was off to an interesting start. Where would we be if life was just plain easy like that?
Today on the other hand, was a much smoother ride. The line was a breeze. The wait was short. I paid, cash. Had my “thug-like” picture taken. Took the test. Had a minor freak out during the test because I realized that I never actually read the permit manual thingie. Finished the test and gave it to the lady for correction. Waited somewhat anxiously. And…
I passed! Wooo!! With only 1 wrong answer. Heh. I am now one step closer to my mobile life.
Learner’s permit in hand, I walked outside with a spring in my step. And what do I spy parked right across the street from the DMV?
And my excitement grows…