I.D. CARD
Do you have your U.S.
I.D. card yet? You know, the one
enabling you to board any of our airlines that will be required in 2020 –
unless you want to carry your Passport.
I don’t know the situation in your State, but in So Cal I’m hearing that
the closer we come to that effective year the busier our Dept. of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) expects to be – that they are anticipating a last minute rush. I don’t want to think about having to seek the
I.D. card anytime during these next two years so am getting mine now.
Meanwhile, I’ve
learned our DMV encountered nightmarishly long lines and waits from applicants
already. So, when my ordinary driver’s
license needed to be renewed after five years I tried to make an appointment as
recommended to avoid several hours waiting time. Lo and behold the earliest date I could get
was a month after my driving license
expired.
Concerned about the
legality of my interim driving, I phoned the DMV office and had to hold over an
hour in order to speak with someone. The
response avoided that legality point with the friendly agent’s suggestion a friend’s
experience in one of my area offices on a Saturday morning had been that they
weren’t busy at all – speculating people thought they’d be crowded so maybe
they didn’t go there.
As my driving license
expiration date has been drawing closer, I finally decided to risk any lines
and plan for long waiting hours. Having
had a bit of abdominal upset I was concerned about possible recurrence while on
this task. Arriving an hour before
opening I encountered a long line already around the building’s corner. A young woman reluctantly agreed to mark my
place ahead of her in line so I could sit down since standing for an hour strains
my endurance, especially if I’m not feeling at peak level. I noted an older man in line perched on a sturdy
three-legged cane-stool and made a mental note that perhaps I should obtain one
for the future.
I did have a cane I’ve
carried since earlier this year as have been negligent starting an exercise
regimen to boost my oomph. A half-hour
before opening DMV officers circulated outside and started a line for those
with appointments and the disabled where they put me. A middle-aged woman with an appointment who was heading
that line readily agreed to mark my place for me so I could sit down, then
signaled to me later when the office opened.
The whole process was shortened
and very efficient, especially since I had completed my application on the internet
days before. I experienced a modicum of waiting, but could
sit intermittently as I was called sequentially to four different windows –
checking in, making further registration and payment before I was stymied with having
one unaccepted document of the three required to obtain the I.D. card. I was processed for my more limited regular
renewal of my expiring driving license, passed my eye test, had my photo taken, provided my thumb print several times, then moved on to the computer touch screen written test.
Someone waiting in the
test line thoughtfully told me I should go directly to the desk, which I did
and was immediately directed to a soft cushioned seat to await availability of
one of the touch screen computers with seating. A staff person almost immediately came to
confirm I was okay, then assure me I would be next to take the computerized
driving test.
While waiting I
observed the rest rooms conveniently located nearby, comfortingly in case I
needed them. (I don’t
mean this as more information than you might wish to know, but in keeping with
discussing aging as it is -- a matter of fact acknowledgement is that sometimes, especially when we get older, use of special insurance pads can be wise accessories in
some situations. Men and women have finally
been able to readily purchase these potential little leakage protectors -- just
in case ready access isn’t available to needed facilities as when traveling, or
access is unknown. We don’t have to feel
shamed because of leaky valve weaknesses but might want to discuss with our
doctor.)
Waiting to take my
computer driving test I noticed some users seem to be quite unfamiliar with
computers so were quite slow operating them.
The busy supervising assistant was constantly moving these novices along
from screen page to page while darting off to keep the main waiting line
rotating. Finally
taking my turn I passed my driving test as was confirmed with receipt of official
temporary documents at the last DMV window.
I was told if I returned within
30 days with the additional different required document that they would issue
me the I.D. card at no additional cost as had been my original quest.
In all my wisdom, I
thought promptness would be best, so after gathering the document from last
year’s income tax form (to display my Social Security number in a manner they accepted),
the next morning I returned to the DMV office.
This time I intentionally didn't arrive until about two hours after they opened. I had noticed the previous day that by the
time I left there was no line outside so correctly gambled that could be true
other days, too.
Unfortunately, on this
next day visit after a short line wait to check in, then another brief wait,
just as I thought I was on the home stretch, I was told since the regular
driving license was in process that they could not issue the I.D. card. I would have to wait until I received the limiting renewed driver's license in a week or two and come down again. I was not pleased and could only wish they
had told me this the previous day since these activities require more effort than when I was younger, so I do
try to minimize my trips plus plan ahead. I look forward to completing the final stage
of this process and hope this new I.D. card’s duration is for many years.
* * *
Our California DMV system
is simultaneously registering all people to vote as they initiate issuing these
new I.D. cards. Only a week or so ago,
in addition to horrendously long lines, they discovered thousands of people had
been erroneously registered to vote who were not entitled to do so. I don’t recall the specifics of all that
situation, but reportedly the error has been corrected.
That initial rush for
I.D. cards, the hullabaloo, subsequent hue and cry over all the waiting lines, has
resulted in the DMV being subjected to loud criticism all over the news, and by
politicians. I have decided, at least
presently, the nightmare lines, bollixed-up operations must have been resolved
and I’ve benefited.
However, if people
around the U.S. (I don’t know about other countries, or if they have the I.D., too, in order to fly our airlines) are wise, within these
next two years, not only with our critical U.S. national election coming up in 2020,
they will apply for the new I.D. card early. Check your State to determine what is happening
for you to acquire your I.D. card, and any voting registration if you have
questions.
In California residents
will have the updated or new voter registration via DMV driver’s license
registration completed long before our new earlier Presidential Primary Election
date in March 2020, but it is important to be registered to vote then, and vote in
November 2020. More immediately we’re
focusing on the upcoming 2018 election in a couple weeks.
* * *
Driving always
presents us with the challenge to consider whether or not we are at our best
for safe driving our vehicle ... in whatever our condition ... whatever the condition of our vehicle ... whatever the
weather conditions ... whatever our age ... from the time we receive our
driver’s permit ... then our license ... ever after.
We would be wise to
consider driving statistics – in the U.S. older adults are ranked second in
number, only less than teenagers for being in the most automobile accidents.
This gives thought to
thinking about when we might need to consider retiring from driving as I was
reminded when reading the recent 10/19/18 conversation at "Nick Here and Now"
in Ireland.
I think when to turn
in my keys is a highly individual determination since we all age differently. Some of us might best retire from driving
earlier than others for a variety of issues that could be associated with our
physical, medical, or mental condition we need to honestly and realistically
consider. Others may have to counsel
with us as to what is best for our own safety and that of others, especially if
we’re not always thinking clearly which can be challenging for all
involved.
Driving license
renewal requirements vary from State to State though similar basics apply.
* * *
$$$ FOR VALUES
We’ve been given an official
explanation for the disappearance of newsman Jamal Khashoggi by his Arab nation
from their Consulate in Turkey. He lived in the United States and wrote for The Washington Post newspaper. What
facts are really known about his now-admitted death?
I am grieved ... beyond
being appalled ... with the events surrounding the disappearance of this newsman
... disgusted with .....
... how our nation’s leaders have responded or
not reacted since this story was first revealed
... how our humanity or lack of is portrayed
... how this nation’s values, morals, ethics
are represented.
Then there is that all
important question posed by one of our nation’s leader’s religious base
supporters in light of $$$ and Arab’s arms sales:
Some might ask: What would Jesus say?
* * *
EMOTIONAL LABILITY
Coincidentally, Nick's comment introduced in my previous post the topic of uncontrollable laughter occurring
in some people he’s encountered. I said
I would describe one of my rare experiences with someone exhibiting that
behavior – Emotional Lability – a neurological issue that can occur due to numerous
causes.
My only encounter with
emotional lability was with a 40+ aged highly intelligent lady. She had multiple medical problems including a
shunt in her brain, necessary to drain excess accumulating fluids to lower brain
pressure. Her speech had been affected
resulting in slow productions since she couldn’t move her articulators –
tongue, lips, jaws, other, effectively enough to produce quick sharp speech (a
condition called dysarthria).
Often individuals with
a dysarthric speech pattern are erroneously assumed by others to be of lower
level intelligence, then treated accordingly.
She was no exception, requiring constant education for everyone with
whom she came in contact. Often what she
said might be ignored or she was unable to complete her message due to her slow
speech, especially if staff just stuck their head in the room for a quick word
or two.
I had
to intervene occasionally while we were working on her speech when she made an
unintentional speech error of a humorous nature. She would see the humor in this and begin
laughing, but then couldn’t readily stop.
When this laughter, or rare crying, emerged we focused on her using
techniques to cue herself with a visual prompt to consciously stop her
behavior.
She spoke of
fascinating life experiences, including having been in China for one such
period of time, long before the country had established official diplomatic relations
with the United States. Her family,
young adult children, seemed to be mostly estranged for whatever the reasons,
possibly partly due to her permanent eventually worsening physical condition.
Unable to do much for
herself, primarily confined to her bed, she was able to mostly maintain a positive attitude,
had a sharp high level sense of humor when those getting to know her and interacting
with her engaged so. During all the time
I worked with her and afterward I continued to educate frequent staff changes about
her at every opportunity of which I became aware.
Eventually, I accepted
a professional position elsewhere, then long afterward had occasion to return
for a short time. I learned after she
had spent many years at this large facility where she was familiar she had been
abruptly discharged to a new different place.
I never knew where she went or any other particulars, but she is another
person whose subsequent quality of life I’ve sometimes wondered about.
A Driver's I.D. Card, continuing issues swirling around how our nation's officials, especially our leader-in-chief, represent each of us in the world, and some complications that can occur in the human experience may offer a topic of interest to you, too.
