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| the view from the Newport state building |
It was May 2014 and younger daughter needed her learner's permit for driving; and my license was 5 months expired. That made it worth it to travel the hour plus on lumpy spring roads to visit the DMV. After careful consideration of the options relevant to parking, waiting lines and un-scenic interstate views, we opted to take the afternoon and go the longer route to Newport VT, where the office is never crowded, the waiting room looks over Lake Memphremagog and there's a nifty deli at ground level entrance.
That morning, I spent a few moments on the DMV web site as bikerman and I had conspired to get Enhanced Drivers Licenses so we could partake in riding some Quebec roads. As a border state, we could opt for the less expensive and much faster issue of this Border approved ID. I surfed the cite to be certain of the 5 pieces of documentation I'd need to acquire the simple photo ID. State photo ID, ck. Two utility bills showing physical address, ck. Property Tax statement with same address, ck. Social Security Card, ck. My birth certificate, newly minted and acquired from my place of birth (16$ fee) A written statement as to why I was seeking the enhanced ID, ck (well just to be safe). I read the check list twice, secured all gathered documents in neat new folder.
Collected daughter at her school and proceeded to drive my newly washed Honda Element, aka the breadbox, to the beautiful Newport State Office Building on this pristine day. Though daughter was born and raised in this Green Mountain State, she had never been to "the Kingdom", never seen the passage of VT history as can only be seen while navigating the forgotten small towns in this North East Kingdom, or corner of her home state.
A leisurely drive brought us to our destination inspired by the vivid spring green landscape and refreshed with optimism for our afternoon of paperwork. Empty parking spots were plentiful letting me park up front for the short walk up the granite steps into the polished halls of the barely new building. I filled the empty halls with the tourist speech to daughter, " that my friend had designed this building only a few years earlier... it was the prettiest state building VT could offer and we wouldn't have a long wait here."
Entering the small DMV suite, we were attended to promptly. In fact, my daughter took the window next to mine, and we both pulled out our documentation and fees. She answered her prompts politely and accurately, I delighted in knowing I raised a competent child; and I filled out my forms. I presented my documents, giddy with anticipation for a new picture and the endorsement for enhanced id. I even wore my red biker fleece under my leather jacket with hair set in a riding braid. I was good to go.
Time ticked by, daughter was finished so she stood next to me. That is when, it went wrong, totally wrong. A very polite DMV agent spoke,"ma'am, I can't issue an enhanced id for you...." "What." "I can not process this application, you don't have the proper documents..." "What!" "The name on your birth certificate does not match the name on your Social Security card...." "ohhhh, that's because I got married in 1988, and I took his name...traditional you know..." She smiled politely and then stuck a knife in my feminist avatar when she said, "yes, but you need to have proof of that name change; do you have your marriage license?...." At this point, I'm feeling flushed, my skin is hot and I'm seeing red....."No. I. Don't. I divorced him in 1998, 6mos after his daughter here, was born..." Now daughter is wilting, squirming, whispering "mom, keep it down.." "I do not have a copy of that wedding license." Now everyone in the place is listening in silent awe. "ma'am do you have a divorce decree?" "NO. I. DO. NOT." "I can't process an enhanced id without proper doc....." "Where. On. That. Web. Site. did it say any such thing?" After some rustling of papers, she showed me where. In tiny 7 point font at the bottom of the online check list, it said exactly that.
Without consideration for my location, my young daughter, the polite agent, the armed security dude at the door...I became louder. "This. Sucks!" I turned to my daughter, she after all, could not arrest me, and bellowed:
"I have been divorced for 16 years... effing ex has been married(me),
then divorced, married again, then divorced, now married again....he will Never have to 'show his papers' to prove his identity. Why? because this is a man's world and he has a Dick!" As daughter steps away from me, I confront her, "...don't you Ever take your spouse's name if you get married! effing Don't!"
Turning back to the astonished agent I rant, "So here we are, 2014 in USA and since 2003, we have to prove our identity beyond a doubt so we can visit Canada and return without hassle at a port of entry. When just 11 years ago, I could visit Canada at will with my photo VT drivers license and a birth cert for the kids. How many criminals and terrorists has this policy entrapped? How many tourists does it discourage and how many divorced women are annoyed? Who benefits?"
I know it's about proof of legal change of name; but here we are, 21st century and we still accept patriarchal sir name, then if that changes, all the woman's paperwork must reflect that.... The agent did offer that I should renew my expired license. Insult to injury, as I sat in the chair for the photo, they made me remove my leather jacket, my Harley cap and my sunglasses. Fine.
As we returned to the car, we paused to enjoy the view of that massive lake. Disgruntled that I would not be able to ride across the boarder, I found some solace in reminding myself, that only in VT, could a raging middle-aged woman in biker leathers get her picture taken for a driver's license. Anywhere else, I'd have been arrested and the picture would not be so gracious. With that daughter drove home in our silent car, with out incident. I'll be better prepared, next time.
peace ~ resa
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| just little ol' me |
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