A Visit to the MVC

 ...or for those of you NOT in NJ, DMV.

Yes, it's that DREADED time.  The time when I have to go get my license renewed.  This CAN be done through the mail  (it's almost like they DON'T want you to come in), but I'm thinking that with the current climate it's a good time to get a Real ID and this fills me with horror.  (Can you blame me?)

First off, my current license has a really good photo of me.  Or at least I think so.  I wish it would never change.  I wish I didn’t change. (Younger, thinner and blonder wins every time!)  But there you go.

Second you need a TON of paperwork in order to get a Real ID.  I SHOULD have everything I need to prove that I am ME and that I still do reside in NJ (even though I also live in PA).  I have my expiring license.  I have my passport (which I have yet to use and is still good for another 4 years...I still have to wonder if getting the whole family passports back in January of 2020 had something to do with the pandemic).  I have my social security card. (Which has my married name on it, I changed everything right after I got married.  If I was getting married now I'd say screw it, keep your maiden name.)  I have a utility bill with my address on it.  I have my tax bill with my address on it.  I have the form that they sent me to renew my license with my address on it.  I have a few other mailed items that have my name and address on it.  And I have my checkbook with my address on it (so that I can pay whatever fee they charge these days.)

Finally, I got an appointment;  an appointment with the closet MVC office in my area.  (They've closed several down over the years.)  It is definitely NOT my favorite one.  (It's the one where my son took his driver's test and after he passed, they wouldn't issue his license because they were closed, even though he took his test at an earlier time than he was scheduled, so HOW could they have been closed?  If you want to read about it:  https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-mvc-story.html)  This is the time when I WISH I still had a house at the shore so that I'd have an excuse to go to the office there, which is much nicer.  (I used to renew my license there all the time; going in when they opened and then going to see my parents.)  But it doesn't make sense.  So off I went to the one "nearby".  

What happened?   Nothing much and I'm happy to say that. 

I'll admit that I arrived at the MVC extra early. It was raining and I didn't know how long it take me to get there. It's a nightmare to access and I just wanted to get there. (The photo above proves my point.) Plus I was hoping the earlier I got there the earlier I could get out. And for once, I was correct. 

With purse, envelope full of paperwork and umbrella I headed inside.  First thing: check in. Easy enough. I was given a form to fill out and the most difficult part about that was finding a place to actually fill it out. (There is an "area" to do so and it was pretty packed.)  Once filled out, I returned to the check-in and got a slip of paper with a number. I was told to take that paper (and not lose it as it's vital!) along with my form and everything else I had and stand in line for an ID check. 

The line was not too long. It probably only took me about 10 to 15 minutes to get to the front of it and have my ID checked. The woman was very nice, but heard to hear.  (She's behind Plexiglas and numbers are continuously being called out; first in English and then in Spanish.) I had all the forms I needed and then some! (Hey, it's better to be prepared!)

 Once in it all been checked the very kind woman put it all together in a packet and told me to sit down and wait for my number to be called. (Which is why you hold onto your number)

So I sat down and listened to numbers being called out... The numbers were also projected on giant screens. So I sat and waited. However it didn't take more than 5 to 10 minutes before my number was called and I was told to go up to window 8. 

Once there the woman reviewed my paperwork again. I think she scanned everything as well. Then she took my picture. This was the worst part of it all. I have had a cold for several days and I do not look my best. (Are weepy swollen eyes, red nose and chapped lips a good look for anyone?) However I wasn't going to reschedule my appointment just because I wasn't feeling well. (I can feel my sinuses pulse! Ignore it Bfth, ignore it!  The photo that she took shows a puffy somewhat red-faced Beth with wrinkles, flaky dry skin AND acne (how can you have both at my age?)  wearing a print blouse and a plaid puffy vest.  (It was chilly out) I wasn't happy with how it but I wasn't going to fight it.  (Maybe I should have taken off the vest?  Where would I have put it?  I already had my envelope with all my information, my purse AND my umbrella on the tiny counter that separated us.) Since my last photo ID I have gained weight and aged and there's was nothing I can do about that. So I accepted it. (I was unhappy, but I accepted.) I then was asked how I wanted to pay for today's real ID.  I whipped out my credit card. And that was that. 

She returned everything I had given her and told me that my real ID would be in the mail in 2 to 3 weeks. Now it's just a matter of waiting. 

So all in all it wasn't that bad. I wouldn't say it was a fun experience. However it wasn't a bad experience. The worst thing about the whole process were the following: 

• finding all the documents I needed
• actually getting to the MVC office because it's crazy getting on and off the highway
• and last, but not least, the horrible ID photo that's going to be sitting on my real ID for the rest of my life. Oh if I could only be 10 to 15 years younger and 15 to 25 lbs. lighter life would be better. But isn't that always the case?

So my MVC/DMV "adventure" was uneventful.  And that's the kind of adventure I like.