My Afternoon at the MVD
Posted: Monday, July 05, 2010
by Dianne Lehmann
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In the state of Arizona (as opposed to being in an Arizona frame of mind), when you have passed a certain age and have not had any traffic accidents or too many tickets, they will issue you a driver's license that is good until your sixtieth birthday. No fooling.
In Arizona , we do not have the DMV as in many other states. What we've got is the Arizona Department of Transportation Department of Public Safety Motor Vehicle Division. ADOT is responsible for anything having to do with roads and traveling them. The DPS is responsible for just what it says in all its many ramifications. The MVD has jurisdiction over all vehicles and the people who operate them. Arizona has a somewhat in-your-face rebellious nature and that is just one of the things I like about it. But I do honestly think that DMV would do just fine.
So, I was not expecting to have to visit the MVD any sooner than a few weeks before my birthday in 2012. The few weeks before is for safety's sake. I've never been good at taking tests. I tend to freeze up and forget everything I know. So, imagine my surprise to receive a letter from the MVD requesting my presence. It seems that I had not updated my driver's license photograph in over 12 years (didn't know I had to). I guess that is their limit. Beyond that, too much may have changed. Having not had my nose done or my eyelids raised or any of that, I still look pretty much as I did 12 years ago. A little thinner in the face maybe, but about the same. I was thinking that in another two years, not all that much was going to change and couldn't they just wait. But I figured I knew the answer to that question.
I called the nearest location of a business that does what the MVD does, but charges you more and does it faster and with less waiting, but they were not yet approved to perform photo updates. I called another such business, but they only did that at their location clear on the other side of Prescott right next door to the MVD. Go figure.
I still had not finished my story about car dealerships for the Quad Cities Business News and so I thought that I could kill two birds with one stone (I would never actually, on purpose, kill a bird) by driving out there. One of the larger car dealers has a multi-make dealership just minutes away from the MVD. Just that morning I had decided I needed to do an in-person interview because no one would talk to me on the phone. So while it is a very long drive from my house, it seemed like a no brainer.
Everybody has to go to the MVD (or equivalent) sooner or later. Well, I suppose Oprah doesn't, maybe. So you see a real cross section of the population while waiting your turn.
There was the young Hispanic couple with their brand new baby boy. The mom was the one applying and so Dad was caring for the wee thing. The baby started to fuss and Dad took him out of the carrier with such love and patience and care that I just had to smile. Then the boy made clear what the fuss was all about by vomiting all over Dad, two chairs and the floor. Who knew such a small thing could contain such a large volume of liquid.
There was a young woman with more tattoos than just about anyone her age should have had sufficient years to get. I know you have to be at least 18 to get a tattoo, but honestly, she must have started very early with her parents permission. I would have liked to have seen her parents.
Just about every age and stage of life was represented, except for the very, very old. I suppose that at some point, I too will be too old to drive. I hope that is a long way down the road. I can't imagine relying on others to get around.
There were all sorts of different attire, some of which defies description. There was one older woman who must feel as I do. That there is no sense in dressing like an old woman. But so many older women dress that way. You know what I mean, big blouse unbuttoned over a plain T-shirt, baggy pants or cropped pants, and joggers with ankle socks all in fairly nondescript or pastel colors. Boring.
I don't think it is a matter of comfort because I don't wear anything that isn't comfortable. I wear what I like, not what I think I should. What does that tell you? Of course, I could be reading it all wrong and they all actually like dressing like old women. What do I know? At any rate, their clothing wasn't what I'd call fun clothing. Am I digging myself a deep hole here?
As each number was called out, the applicant would stand and look around the arc of windows for the window indicated. I thought at least one of them would have scoped out the situation while they were waiting. One older couple could not seem to find their window and so I pointed it out to them. I'm a scoper, that's for sure. I don't deal well with uncertainty and like to get my bearings early on.
My number was B140 and when B131 was called and came up on the electronic board as being directed to window #19, I immediately looked for that window and discovered that I had fortuitously sat right in front of it. Why the chairs are all arranged so that you have your backs to the windows I will never know. B132 and B133 and all subsequent B numbers were also directed to window #19, so I was fairly certain that would be my window when my number was called. It was.
The Hispanic woman made it to the photo area just after I did and she could not figure out what to do with her forms and so I showed her where to put them. Then we settled in to wait because the man who was manning (how appropriate) window #3 was also the man taking the photographs.
When Window #3 Man finally had time for us, the first person photographed was the male half of an older husband and wife pair. Window #3 Man asked the husband to look at the camera, counted 1-2-3 and snapped the photo. But the husband looked away, at his wife just then, who was talking with another applicant. Window #3 Man asked him again to look at the camera, counted 1-2-3 and snapped another photo. But the husband had looked at his wife again. He did this fully five times before Window #3 Man could finally get a clean shot. The husband didn't even seem to realize what he was doing or figure out why Window #3 Man was starting to lose his patience. His last request to look at the camera involved a lot of agitated tapping at the camera and other gesticulating and a not so pleasant tone of voice.
When I was finished (my new photo is much nicer than my last photo but that's not saying much), I drove immediately, with my freshly updated driver's license, to the aforementioned car dealership. I did not get my interview because Mr. Noname could not speak for Mr. Anothernomane. I seriously wanted to ask Mr. Noname if he could speak for himself, but held my tongue. Not literally. That would look stupid. But I did actually enjoy my time at the MVD. Who'd a thunk it?
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)I loved this article, Dianne!I always hate waiting at DMV's or any kind of official place, but I realized as I was reading that if I just let myself be there instead of focusing on resisting, I might also enjoy myself. Hmmm. Maybe I don't have as much patience as you!JxxxHi Jennifer.I don't know that it is so much patience as resignation. I mean, what else was I going to do. If I want to continue driving (and I do), I really have no choice. To sit there and, the whole time I'm waiting, be wishing I was somewhere else would only make me miserable. It won't make it go any faster. But I think you've got it from the comment you left. I'm the same way waiting in lines at the grocery store or wherever. But you know, a lot of people have the perception that they have no time and try to do everything as fast as possible. I wonder just what they think they are saving. Not that I'm super enlightened or anything. I just have no desire to make mine own self unhappy.Thanks for stopping by,Hugs,Dianne
Luckliy, the DMV in the small Texas town we live in greets you at the door with coffee:)Best.....eHi e.Whoa! That's some kinda nice! I actually thought about driving to Cottonwood because their MVD is smaller, the area is less populated and the waits are usually much less. But I had that car dealer story to finish, so I just did what I had to do.Thanks for reading,Hugs,Dianne
Cute article, Dianne.Hi Joyce.Thanks! Kind of long though, hunh? Glad you made it through to the end.DianneNo, I didn't think it was too long. You covered a lot of stuff there. Good stuff.Thanks! I still think it was too long. But I didn't know how to make it shorter and still say all the things I wanted to say. That's my problem ... too darn much to say. :)
what a description for a day at the MVD. you write what you want and not what you should.Hi Michael.For better or worse, yes, I do write what I want mainly because I have no idea what I should. But woe on anyone who might presume to tell me what I should write. :) Actually though, what I should write is what I want to write. It's a real pleasure and a luxury to be able to do that. I have a writing job where they tell me what to write about. It isn't always fun. Life should be fun, don't you think?Thanks so much for taking the time (it was a long story, about the only kind I know how to write) to read it and to comment.Dianne
Would love it if So. Cal. did become it's own state and then they could leave the water for the farmers up north.... (I spent most of my adult life in the Stockton-Lodi area) thanks for this humorous piece!Hi Marijo.That's been a major complaint for so many years. SoCal just keeps growing in population and demanding more water. We have a similar problem in the area where I live. We've actually benefited by the downturn in the economy in that housing starts are way down and new demand for water from the aquifer has decreased. Still, we are currently "mining" water, which means it is being drained faster than it is being replaced.Anyway, I was sure hoping someone would find it humorous. Thanks for saying so.Hope you are enjoying your high altitude summer. Ours could be a little cooler, that's for sure.Hugs,DianneHey girlies ---- don't be hatin' the so-cals, I am one of them again, you know! :-)Hey, you know I don't! When we first moved here from SoCal, you didn't dare tell anyone where you were from. It's not nearly so bad now, but it still has a stigma.Dumb, hunh.
O Dianne, again you make me laugh, smile, and shaking my head. I could see it all. Glad you liked your picture. One of these days I will have to tell my tale about our returned to the California Department of Motor Vehicles - but as you know I don't like to use swear words, so I have to wait until I calm down :-) Seriously, though..... I did enjoy this trip to the MVD with you - I hope to take another trip with you soon. Hugs TeresaHi Teresa.I have nothing but unpleasant memories of my trips to the DMV in California. Sad. Did you see e's comment about his DMV and them greeting you at the door with coffee? Wow. You are absolutely going to have to tell us all about your trip to the DMV. I can't wait to hear about!Hugs,Dianne
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