I have no idea how long it's been since I originally wrote my "ReaPsTA goes to the DMV" story, about when I went to the DMV to get my learners permit. That's probably a bad thing. The fact I couldn't find it with the search function means it was too long ago.
But at long last I am here to report to you that I am licensed to drive in the state of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the story wasn't too interesting, and I don't know how to make it seem interesting. I'm not a very good writer today I guess. Scattered thoughts about the events:
- After some mild drama about whether or not I was ready for the parallel parking segment, I went in and did it basically perfectly on my first try. I felt pretty good after that.
- I can't believe how easy it is to get a drivers license in this state. After the parallel parking, I just went for a quick drive around the block. I don't think it was even five minutes worth. Fortunately I managed to ace it. The evaluator seemingly felt comfortable enough to chit-chat a little bit while we were out. I assume that if I was doing a bad job he'd be at full alert instead.
- Last time I had to really deal with the DMV it was soul-suckingly routinized but at least workable. When I went to get my drivers license photo taken, the woman behind the desk seemingly went out of her way to make me feel uncomfortable and like an imposition on her. She said I needed my learner's permit, which I didn't know. My mom had it about ten steps away and I said "Oh, I'll be right back." To which she fired back "Oh no, you won't be right back." Fortunately my mom did the right thing and walked over. I get that the lady might have thought I needed to go to my car, but isn't that something you ask first? Like, "Wait, you don't need to go to your car, do you? Because you'll lose your place in line." That'd be lame but at least explicable. In general, everyone who works at the DMV seems defeated in some way. People handle defeat differently. Some of them just want to get it done, some of them are a bit off but nice, and some of them are whoever took my picture.
- Of course, my photo was terrible. It's either (a) My "I just got my license and I think I'm awesome" face, which is lamer than I made it sound, my (b) "I feel like laughing at this lady in front of me, and since I'm trying to be lighthearted in front of her without laughing at her my face is contorted in weird ways" face or (c) a shit-eating grin. Actually it's probably a combination of the three.
- After I got my license I went to the Subway by the DMV, same as when I got my permit. I guess there is some poetry to it.
- After getting my license, I have three primary reactions. One is this definite feeling of "OH YES, FINALLY, MY WHOLE ABILITY TO DO EVERYTHING IS COMPLETELY CHANGED!" It's not really major, but everything feels just a little different. Another is "I'm twenty-three, it's about time." Which isn't nice or appreciative, but really it's true. And finally, overwhelming worry that I'm going to get in an accident, very possibly because I have a crappy attention span. And maybe kill people. In fact that feeling is more powerful than the other two. This is probably why I don't succeed much at life.
See what I did there? I threw a dark ending onto what should be a happy story. I did something a real writer would do. So I'm still awesome.
Topic: ReaPsTA (Finally) Returns to the DMV (Read 2194 times)