A once-in-10-years event

In November I received a notification in the mail that my driver’s license would be expiring on my birthday — a once-in-10-years event.

I jumped on the dojmt.gov website to make my “strongly recommended” appointment, but the first one available wasn’t until late January, considerably past my birthday. I reserved the first available date and applied for, not just a license renewal, but for the “Real ID.”

As we know, the Real ID is the only form of identification that will be needed beginning May 3, 2023, to fly on any domestic flight. If you don’t have one, you can still fly as long as you bring with you a second approved form of ID, along with your standard driver's license.

I admit to blowing the importance of this appointment a bit out of proportion, perceiving it was one not to be missed — or even late for — kept that yellow postcard from the MVD on my desk for two months, and set my cellphone’s calendar to notify me: 3 days before/1 hour before/and 10 minutes before the appointment.

Furthermore, when one must live with one’s drivers license picture for 10 years (it’s now eight with the Real ID), one may want to consider one’s appearance and, now being 10 years older, I admit I put in a little extra effort that morning.

Even though I’d been awaiting the hour of my appointment for two months, I found myself pressed for time, arriving a mere three minutes early. I walked in and sat down in a waiting area while two employees worked with two clients at two desks. One finished with her client, stood up, stretched, grabbed her purse and announced she was going to lunch. She then looked over at me and asked what I was there for. I told her I had an appointment to renew my license.

She informed me I was in the wrong office and said to go out the door, turn to my right and look for Suite E, which I did. Except, I exited the entire building, completely missing that Suite E was just the door to the right within the foyer.

I’m now walking down the strip mall’s sidewalk passing Suite C, Suite B, Suite A. Wait a minute. This can’t be right, I think to my befuddled self, realizing I’m now officially tardy for my appointment and I’ll probably be shown the door … if I ever find it.

Lucky for me, two women were walking in the building I’d just exited and I asked them if they knew where to go to renew your driver’s license. One said she was also headed there so we walked in together.

The employee smiled, asked my name and handed me a clipboard. I reiterated I was there for the Real ID (I wasn’t sure I’d applied online correctly). She asked me if I had two forms of ID stating my address. I’d brought my passport and had brought that DMV yellow postcard with me. (Apparently, in two months I’d forgotten all the requirements for obtaining a Real ID.) She told me the yellow card wouldn’t do because it wasn’t dated, but reassured me that if I had my car’s registration that would work. I went back out to the car to retrieve it. Everything was going to be just fine.

I waited briefly in the uncrowded office where the few employees were all quite cheerful. The woman who directed me to Chair no. 1 (of five otherwise unoccupied) was gregarious and seemed happy to be working with me on this Real ID business.

After taking my picture, for which she encouraged me to look at the picture of the cute little puppy below the camera and smile, I admit to having some anxiety about taking the eye exam. I don’t wear corrective lenses but, let’s face it, it’s been 10 years and I now keep a pair of reading glasses in just about every room of the house. But, no problem! I rattled off those letters as if I could do it with my eyes closed.

When she told me my Real ID would have a gold star on it, I exclaimed I hadn’t gotten a gold star in years! She laughed and said, “Me either! Yeah, like in school!” adding, “Come to think of it, I don’t know if I even got one in school!”

We had a warm and hearty laugh together, wished each other a good afternoon, and now I’m counting the days until my Real ID arrives in the mail.

Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 406-758-4440 or community@dailyinterlake.com.