Today I ventured over to the DMV for the first time since having made an illegal Ueeey about 20 years ago. The place hasn't changed much, but at least these days, they have something called an Appointment.
Three weeks ago I tried to get one of those things by phone, but on that day, the phone system was down. After three tries, I gritted my teeth, drove over, and stood in Line 10 (Start Here) for the first appointment I could arrange, after school.
Everything was taken, she exclaimed, except after the 27th. So, I took the 28th, today, at 3:30. After having stood in line to make the appointment, I was especially looking forward to zipping through the process the next time, rather than sitting around as I had 20 years ago. In and Out... how wonderful, I thought.
At 3:20 I arrived (just in case).
The first thing I noticed was that Line 10, where I was supposed to present my Get into System Quick card, had about 15 people in it. There must be a mistake, I thought. Surely I don't have to stand in line with all these other poor souls (who weren't smart enough to make an Appointment).
No mistake, I had to stand in Line 10. Just like Monopoly, everyone Starts There, Appointment or Not. By the time I made my way to the front, I received a number, instead of a time slot. I got G61.... Perplexed, I asked another frustrated customer, why I, with an appointment, had to sit around for yet another unspecified period of time.
Don't worry, he said, they have "different" numbers. Yours is "different" than theirs, he said, motioning over to the ever longer Line 10. By now, it was 4pm, well beyond my specified appointment time, and G61 hadn't been called.
As the numbers finally seemed to draw closer, I eagerly placed myself near counter 7 where the overhead monitor had specified that we appear momentarily, indicating that number G61 would be called Next. Yippee! I thought, only half an hour wasted.
But then something bizarre happened. The lady at counter 7 suddenly got up with her purse, put her sweater on, and walked out. Apparently, she decided to take her break, right then and there, just before my number was called. The next thing I knew, the computer Voice called out G62.
What happened to G61??, I thought. The electronic voice had somehow omitted us! In a tizzy, I scurried over to Line 16, where G62 was already being helped, and exclaimed to the fellow behind the counter, that G61 had been left out, victim of somebody going on a break who must have pressed the DELETE button.
He left the counter and appeared to talk to two women, seated in the center of the room, (obviously the "brains" of the organization, or at least of the teleprompters). He returned after some time, saying that 'everyone says G61 was called', that I must have just missed it.
That remark infuriated me, and he knew it. Before I got into a complete frenzy, he told me that he would help me, but I'd have to wait until he was finished with G62.
Well, by the time G62 was finished, it was 4:15 and counting. It took us until 4:40 to escape from the zoo. A friend of mine, who happened to have started in Line 10, far behind us, and without an Appointment, was already in and out of the place, a half hour earlier, while we'd spent that time chasing "G"s and electronic Voices. I don't think I will ever bother to make an appointment at the DMV again.
Three weeks ago I tried to get one of those things by phone, but on that day, the phone system was down. After three tries, I gritted my teeth, drove over, and stood in Line 10 (Start Here) for the first appointment I could arrange, after school.
Everything was taken, she exclaimed, except after the 27th. So, I took the 28th, today, at 3:30. After having stood in line to make the appointment, I was especially looking forward to zipping through the process the next time, rather than sitting around as I had 20 years ago. In and Out... how wonderful, I thought.
At 3:20 I arrived (just in case).
The first thing I noticed was that Line 10, where I was supposed to present my Get into System Quick card, had about 15 people in it. There must be a mistake, I thought. Surely I don't have to stand in line with all these other poor souls (who weren't smart enough to make an Appointment).
No mistake, I had to stand in Line 10. Just like Monopoly, everyone Starts There, Appointment or Not. By the time I made my way to the front, I received a number, instead of a time slot. I got G61.... Perplexed, I asked another frustrated customer, why I, with an appointment, had to sit around for yet another unspecified period of time.
Don't worry, he said, they have "different" numbers. Yours is "different" than theirs, he said, motioning over to the ever longer Line 10. By now, it was 4pm, well beyond my specified appointment time, and G61 hadn't been called.
As the numbers finally seemed to draw closer, I eagerly placed myself near counter 7 where the overhead monitor had specified that we appear momentarily, indicating that number G61 would be called Next. Yippee! I thought, only half an hour wasted.
But then something bizarre happened. The lady at counter 7 suddenly got up with her purse, put her sweater on, and walked out. Apparently, she decided to take her break, right then and there, just before my number was called. The next thing I knew, the computer Voice called out G62.
What happened to G61??, I thought. The electronic voice had somehow omitted us! In a tizzy, I scurried over to Line 16, where G62 was already being helped, and exclaimed to the fellow behind the counter, that G61 had been left out, victim of somebody going on a break who must have pressed the DELETE button.
He left the counter and appeared to talk to two women, seated in the center of the room, (obviously the "brains" of the organization, or at least of the teleprompters). He returned after some time, saying that 'everyone says G61 was called', that I must have just missed it.
That remark infuriated me, and he knew it. Before I got into a complete frenzy, he told me that he would help me, but I'd have to wait until he was finished with G62.
Well, by the time G62 was finished, it was 4:15 and counting. It took us until 4:40 to escape from the zoo. A friend of mine, who happened to have started in Line 10, far behind us, and without an Appointment, was already in and out of the place, a half hour earlier, while we'd spent that time chasing "G"s and electronic Voices. I don't think I will ever bother to make an appointment at the DMV again.
- Written by Jen
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