A couple of recent set-backs

Set-back #1

This was the year to renew my driver's license.

I dread this task, because the Dept. of Motor Vehicles office near Portland is always overflowing with fellow drivers who are there for the same reason as I.

The office has about twenty seats available for its customers, and typically there are a good 35 people ahead of me. I've even arrived there, in the past, at least a half-hour before the office opens, only to find a crowd outside, waiting to get in and begin the ordeal of...more waiting.

This year I was luckier. I went on a Tuesday morning, around 9:15. I took my number from the queue machine, #44, and looked at the three windows of DMV clerks to find #35 was currently being waited on.

I didn't even bother to pull my knitting out of my tote bag. I simply sat and waited. I eavesdropped, when circumstances allowed, and learned I'd be paying the "senior" rate of license renewal this year, $22. Not bad. One of the advantages of growing old.

Soon my number was called. I went to the window indicated, answered questions almost completely honestly, paid the fee, and had my eyes tested. This part made me a little nervous because I do have a cataract on my right eye. I was able to identify almost all the letters on the eye chart correctly, though, and next was my license photo.

The clerk asked if I'd like a new photo, or would my old photo "do." I said the old photo would be fine, thinking to myself, "She's trying to tell me I haven't aged so much as a smidge in the past five years!"

The clerk said I'd get my new license in about three weeks. I thanked her and left.

Phew, I thought. Renewing my license wasn't half-bad this time.

Then, just like magic, the new license arrived. I let it marinate on the kitchen counter for a couple of days, then I decided it was time to destroy my old license and replace it with my new one.

As the two licenses sat side-by-side on the counter, I marveled to myself at how much richer the colors in the new license were, compared with the colors in the old one. Same photo, remember, but much richer colors.

Then I grabbed a pair of kitchen shears, stood over the trash basket with license in hand, and began chopping the plastic into tiny little pieces. My left hand covered my photo. I worked from right to left, methodically chopping away, when suddenly my left thumb moved over enough to reveal the photo beneath it: a richly colored photo.

Oh, no, I thought. This can't be! Tell me I'm not chopping up my new license by mistake.

Alas, it was true. See photos above.

I envisioned myself returning to the DMV for another go at waiting in line, paying $22, taking the intimidating eye exam....

But I found the letter that had accompanied my new license. It stated that if, for some reason, I should need to replace the license, I could go online to the address provided and order a new one...for a mere $5. Sounded like a good deal to me.

I ordered the new license and expected DMV headquarters to contact me, asking why I was replacing my new license when my old one was still, technically, valid for a few more days.

They asked me no questions, though, and my newer new license is now safely stored in my wallet.

Set-back #2
You probably heard about the snowstorm to hit the Northeast on October 29-30.

This is what greeted us when we got up that Sunday morning.

It was a heavy, wet snow. Since many of our trees and shrubs still had their leaves, it being still rather early in the fall, the snow weighted them down mercilessly.

Our burning bush, which normally stands over 6 feet tall, is in the foreground of the photo of our house. It's that strange "mound" that you see.

We were afraid the burning bush had been ruined, not to mention the forsythia and some lilacs.

They've since rebounded, though, and are looking good as new.

Our power was off for only about twelve hours, which we can't complain about. Some residents of Connecticut still didn't have their power back yesterday! The storm was 9 days ago, for crying out loud.

Today the temperature is in the mid-60's, so I guess we're not getting an early winter after all. Just a fluke snowstorm.