RMV

9:30 A.M. this morning...
As I write this, I'm holding for the next available representative at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

About 20 years ago, when I started working for a new employer, I found out that my driver's license number didn't match my social security number. Apparently, somewhere along the line, my license got renewed with one digit changed.

At some later point, I remember either going to the registry or calling them about this and being told that it wasn't a problem.

Now, all of a sudden, it is. I got a letter in the mail yesterday saying that they will be unable to renew my license next month because my license number doesn't match my social security number. So now, all I need to do is find out what I need to bring to the RMV in order to rectify their problem. The website doesn't have an answer to this simple question, so I've called them on the phone.

9:50 A.M.....
I've been on hold for twenty minutes, now.

wait... wait... wait...

10:15 A.M....
After forty minutes on hold, I got a live voice that was very helpful. I asked my one question, and they answered it quickly. I just need to bring my social security card with me to the registry.

Armed with my required credential, I went to the Registry. I entered the building at 10:55 this morning, and I left the building at 11:10 with my renewed driver's license in hand...

11:40 A.M....
I couldn't believe it! The place was packed, too! This is absolutely amazing to me! I'm completely dumbfounded!

They have a new system there. You start when you walk in, straight to the "Customer Service Representative" window, where you get, in essence, triaged. It's very fast. The person finds out what you're there for and BOING! you get a number and are told where to wait.

When I sat down, I was still prepared for a very long wait. I woke up at midnight last night, worrying about this whole thing. I ended up calling to let them know I wouldn't be to work today. Who knows how long this whole thing could take? The last time I went to the Registry, it took over two hours, and I still didn't get anything done. I imagined waiting for hours, then being told I didn't have some additional form of identification, or maybe I might need a notarized statement from the minister who baptized me over a half a century ago...

Really. I lost sleep over this.

The new system automatically announces the numbers being serviced, and which window to go to. I saw that my number was a good two dozen away from the current number being serviced. I figured at least an hour. I rued not having brought a book to read.

Then it was over! Fifteen minutes! It took me a half hour to get over the shock!

Sometimes, things actually DO improve!