We are now legal here.
August 10, 2007
It took 7 hours and visits to 3 different Driver’s License Centers and 2 different AAA offices, but we are now officially Pennsylvanians.
We went to the first PennDOT (DMV) office in the morning; the line snaked out the door and around the building. Figuring we’d come back another time, we went to AAA which is where we get our registration transferred and our auto tags. But when we got there, we learned that we can’t register the car till we have the driver’s license! So on the AAA guy’s recommendation we head to a nice little office near Villanova and Bryn Mawr U’s. But we were turned away – that is for photos only; we didn’t have the needed documentation from a “test center.” Forget about the fact that we don’t need to take a test – we need to go to a test center!
Finally we found the right center – back on our side of the county – and wait our turns. As soon as I stepped up to the counter, my new best friend Sandy informed me that their computer had just gone down so there wasn’t anything she could do. Well, actually, there was – she got our documents together, took ouor checks, and set them aside, promising to call when the system came up back. Which she was sure would not be today, not with the weather like it is. Come back Tuesday, she said, and come to my window, and it’ll all be here.
Before moving on we stopped for a “water ice” for the kids. That’s a snow cone, sort of. They appreciated the treat after all the driving and waiting for nothing.
At Lowe’s (we visit Lowe’s a lot), Cris got the call that the system was up. We headed back and true to her word, Sandy was waiting for us. She sped us through the photo process and off we went with our licenses. Then it was to AAA again, for tags and our nifty new EZ-Pass transponder so we can blast through the toll booths on the Pennsylvania Turnpike! No more trying digging for quarters as we approach the toll booth! No more wondering where I stuck the toll ticket!
So I guess we are staying for a while. So come see us! We’ll even show you the dungeon.
