I’m a procrastinator.
I don’t know why.
I wish it were not so..but putting off until tomorrow what I could and should do today is part of my DNA.
It’s not a very encouraging characteristic for someone who made his career in television news where being late is not an option.
I never missed an assignment but put myself and my bosses through needless aggravation because of waiting to the last minute to finish what I started. I’ve always told Linda I work better under pressure but that’s stretching it.
Anyway, in retirement, I’ve tried to be better about taking care of business “ahead” of schedule with limited success.
A case in point was in October when it dawned on me that my driver’s license expired on my birthday this year. So, in keeping with the new leaf I’d vowed to turn over, I decided to take advantage of the license renewal on line. Everything went fine until I got to the part about submitting the latest results of my visit to the eye doctor. Well, it turned out that what I reported, (my recent eye doctor’s prescription) wasn’t exactly what was required and I was given a little time to send in the right form or forget about renewing my license over the internet. In the meantime, the 30 dollar fee had already been rung up on my credit card.
This all happened at the same time I had committed to having cataract surgery so I decided to wait until both eyes were done (marvelous result) and take the test in person at the DMV.
Time was running out before the post-birthday grace period of 30 days expired so I headed over to Russell and Western on a Thursday morning which I’d been advised was when I’d encounter the fewest number of people doing the same thing.
As soon as I entered the sizeable parking lot and couldn’t find an open space, I knew I’d been given a bum steer. Sure enough, entering the building glancing to my left, the waiting room was full of people with anxious looks on their faces. I proceeded to the induction area where I was told that all but one of the exam stations was off line..but should be coming back anytime.
Now, I have nowhere I have to be but absolutely hate sitting around holding a number in my hand waiting for it to be called. But..procrastinator that I am, my 30 days of grace were up and there was no coming back the next day…so I filled out the necessary forms and found one of the few remaining empty chairs among a sea of ticked-off drivers whose hopes of a quick in and out were also dashed by technological unreliability.
Oh, well, I thought. I’ll pass the time reading Facebook on my smart phone. Whoops..forgot it at home. It didn’t matter since there are signs posted all over the DMV banning the use of cell phones. Of course, that didn’t stop a few young female ditzoids who not only violated the rule but were so engrossed in their texting they didn’t hear when their number was called…twice.
Eventually, all the exam areas roared back to life and after waiting for 20 others ahead of me, a lovely lady’s recorded voice came over the loud speaker; “A-140”.. that’s me and up I went..only to encounter a person who fit the stereotypical DMV examiner to a “T.” She clearly was not happy in her work and..despite the assurances of the guy who checked me in that the examiner will see on her computer that I’d already paid my 30 dollar fee on line..she had her doubts until a colleague helped her find my information. Now, because I’d paid on-line and getting your license renewed in person was 28 dollars..I made the mistake of asking for a 2 dollar refund since I was standing there in front of her with cash in my hand. Nope..you’ve already been charged for a credit card transaction..even though it wasn’t completed because of the eye thing.
I wasn’t about to argue over two bucks..especially since there were still several impatient people sitting in the waiting area wondering why it was taking us so long to complete the process. “Okay,” my young nemeses ordered..”step over to the eye test machine.” Looking in, I was pleasantly surprised at the ability to see all the required numbers and letters perfectly meaning there would be no restrictions on my license. “Alright,” she said, “stand on the line and look at the blue dot.” The next thing I know, a light flashes at the exact time I decide to blink. “I think I blinked,” I said hoping for another shot at it..but it was not to be.
So..here is the image that everyone from bankers, airline security people and perhaps a few cops will be seeing for the next six years; a droopy eyed..somber looking criminal type who probably should have paid a bribe to that indifferent grumpy DMV employee for a second photo op.
Two dollars sounds about right.
Put it on my account.
UPDATE: I was apparently lucky in getting my renewal. My old license was not valid past my birthday. The 30 day grace period apparently only applies to drivers turning 21. I also thought the license was good for 6 years. I’ve since learned it’s five. Uffdah.