The DMVizzle

Really, I cannot stop myself from adding izzle on the end of almost everything.  It's a disease.  But a very fun one to have.  And don't worry, I don't use izzle in public.  Only in my head (and thus the blog).  And with T.  And my mom.

Anyway, I went to the DMV to get a California license so I could get a library card.  I thought about getting a CA license in October so I could vote, but as it turns out there was not a single election for the district we were living in at that time.  So I am just getting one now.  I kept my maiden name so I got to skip the extra steps for a name change.  There's nothing wrong with T's last name, I am just very attached to my last name.

I went on a Wednesday, because who would take Wednesday off to go to the DMV?  Apparently, a lot of people.  I left the house at nine a.m. and the internet said the wait was four minutes.  Half an hour later I arrived at the DMV saw the line half way around the building.  I couldn't find a parking spot and had to park on the street a block up.

I was in the line outside for over an hour.  At least it was a lovely day and the rain had stopped on Monday.  I was at the DMV for just under three hours total.  I was only mildly interested in the book I brought so I did some subtle people watching.  The guy in line behind me rescued a girl in line's scarf from under a car.  I don't know why, but that just struck me as extraordinarily nice.  I mean, of course it was nice, but it just seemed like that was the first nice thing I have ever seen a stranger do for another stranger in  Southern California.  It almost made me tear up. 

It's strange because in Utah I felt like people were mostly willing to be nice to strangers.  In New York City I felt like people most of the time didn't really care about strangers one way or the other.  In Southern California  I feel like people are actively out to get strangers.  Of course these are crazy broad generalizations but that is how it feels to me.

Anyway, all of the worker bees I interacted with at the DMV were polite and not grumpy at all.  So a very different SoCal DMV experience than T's.

The part that made me most nervous is the eye exam (not the written test - please! - I got 100%).  I have always hated eye exams because they make me so nervous.  I know that's ridiculous because it's not like you can study for them.  But I always feel so stupid when I can't read the little letters.  And then when I can't read the next size up either.  I'm not sure what exactly I am scared about.  Maybe that others will know I'm blind?  Or that I have to admit to someone else that I'm blind?  Or having my classmates know that I'm blind?  Or that it's a test that I have absolutely no control over?  Or something else?  I'm not sure.

The first eye exam I remember being nervous about was in third grade.  This was the kind of eye exam where they line the whole class up and the PTA volunteers take kids one at a time to read a chart on the other side of the gym.  I didn't pass.

From elementary through high school I would hate driving in the car with my parents when they would ask me to help them read the street signs.  Now I realize my parents were just trying to find a certain street in an unfamiliar area, but back then I thought it was an eye test and I hated it and often refused to do it. 

I hate going to the eye doctor even now and there's no one else around in that little room except the doctor and me (and my mom).  I hate how you put your eyes up to that big machine and he flips the letters around and you can't tell if you're supposed to be able to read it or not.  Really, every time I get my eyes checked I feel like crying.

I had lasik when I was a senior in college, but over this summer I noticed that my eyes were not as sharp as they used to be.  I think I need a touch up and I wasn't sure if I would be able to read the sign at the DMV.  But I did just fine.  The DMV lady came at me with a paper to cover one of my eyes and I seriously thought she was going to give me a paper cut on my eye.

Oh, the State of California now has my right thumbprint on file.  They have you grab a plastic mold and rest your thumb on top to capture your thumbprint electronically.  I wonder what they would do if you didn't have a right hand (the mold is specific for the right hand)?  Or if you refused to give them a thumbprint?  And why do they need my thumbprint in the first place? 

Also, they took my picture and didn't ask if I wanted to see it or re-do it or anything (they asked both times in Utah).  They printed a small black and white copy that I had to show to take the written test and the picture looks okay even though my hair is a bit wonky.  Then after I finished the written test the DMV took away my California picture and punched a hole in my Utah license.

My temporary license is just three half sheets of paper stapled together.  My picture is nowhere on any of these papers.  Odd.  The temporary Utah ones look just like a real license but in paper and black and white.  This California place is very strange.

I still don't feel like a California resident.  Probably because of the strange temporary license and the fact that it is just a temporary license.  And the fact that I still carry around my Utah license.  I guess I am having a hard time letting go.  But you probably knew that way before now.

Goodness, this post has been all over.  If you have actually managed to read it all... well, you deserve a medal.