Standing in line at one of our fabulous Government offices you can sure see a vast group of people, I love watching people and most of the folks I meet are really great, but others either make you laugh or scare the heck out of you.
I watched one man stand in line for what seemed like forever, and when he got to the front of the line he made a right hand turn and walked out the front door, he happened to be in front of us so now we were next in line, I didn’t know whether I should make a break for the door or just go ahead with the business at hand.
He came back in just as we were called but made his way to the back of the line without ever making eye contact with anyone, I wonder how many times he walked out the door before he made it to the counter.
Another lady who made it past the red line you are supposed to stay behind until called, began her conversation with a bit of Spanish and a shrug of the shoulders, the clerk asked her if she spoke English, the lady shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
So you are saying you don’t speak English, No hablo Inglés along with another shrug of her shoulders, OK let me see your Social Security card, I don’t have one, you don’t have one? No I never got one, You never got a Social Security card and you don’t speak English either?
This is when the shoulder shrugging young lady got up and headed for the door, I guess she should have not learned English so quickly, I was actually impressed at how quickly she learned.
Our business after we got past the red line was actually painless, I decided that attempting Spanish at the counter was not in my best interest, so I neither embarrassed my wife nor myself, and I was not forced to make a break for the door either.
Our next visit was to our AAA office, we always go there when it is time to register the car, stepping through the door you know everything is going to go smoothly, quickly, and you will have no reason to make a break for the door.
This time we walked right up to the counter to meet a new person working there, she asked for our AAA card and signed us in, What can we do for you today? Cindy told her we needed to register the car so DMV services is where we wanted to go.
Do you have paperwork from the DMV, Cindy told her Yes, May I see it then, now this was a first so Cindy handed her the envelope, we have a problem she informed us.
Jimmy’s name is not on your AAA account, why is this a problem, all I want to do is register the car, Your name is not on the DMV paperwork so Jimmy will have to register the car, and he cant do it on your AAA card.
Since Cindy is still recovering from her recent surgery her fuse has been a bit short, after Cindy explained to her that we always do our DMV business here and that there should be no reason why we can’t do business with the same card we have always used, because “For God’s Sake He Is My Husband!”
The lady responded with “I’ll be glad to help you fill out a membership application for Jimmy” this is when I had to place my hand gently on my wife’s shoulder and guide her toward the door, I sure would have hated for her to have ripped her staples out climbing over that counter.
Today she went online and registered our car, it was much easier, there were no lines to stand in, no service reps to deal with, and everything went smoothly until I asked; While you were online did you sign me up for a AAA membership?
Hope Cindy is doing better. From what I can tell....it used to be "the two shall become one" but now? Being married counts for nothing. Privacy laws and all that. Sure, but I can write checks for the bills that are in his name. Yeah. They'll take your money. Ah...don't even get me started. Glad your calm head prevailed.
ReplyDeleteHey MC, Cindy is doing much better now thank you, the privacy laws I really don't have a problem with unless they make a situation difficult when your intentions are completely obvious and innocent.
DeleteWe've been dealing with all the paperwork, etc. it takes for hubby to retire. Who knew it could be such a time consuming hassle? I thought the idea of retirement was to stop working, not take on an extra job just to prepare for it!
ReplyDeleteHey Ms. A, I do remember the paperwork it took to get the retirement going, it does feel like taking on an extra job just to get there Ha Ha
DeleteBest of luck in getting it done :)
I always register our cars via the internet. The DMV is just too much of a zoo (but a great people watching place) to try to actually go there in person. Is your name the only one on the car registration? Seems if both of yours was on it, AAA should have processed the registration. Usually love AAA; I think for the most part they do great customer service and worth the membership (even pay for son's membership for it).
ReplyDeleteI do hope Cindy feels better soon from her surgery.
betty
Hi Betty, This is the first time we have had any problem with AAA, not that this was actually one to sweat I just thought the situation funny, like you said AAA is a great service and well worth it for the benefits they offer.
DeleteCindy is doing much better still sore but that is to be expected right now.
Protocol gone mad, methinks. I love the way you write about these experiences, always managing to produce a few smiles. My one regret is that you didn't find out if the first guy stayed the course in the queue.... grins. Glad to hear Cindy is on the mend. You were right to drag her away from the silly woman behind the counter. Happy New Year to you both.
ReplyDeleteHi Valerie, It would have almost been worth it to have taken a seat just to see if he ever made it to the front of the line again :)
DeleteA Happy New Year to you also my Dear Friend
HAHAHAHAHAHHAA! Jimmy, I love the ending!!!!
ReplyDeleteReading this post reminded me (and thank for that) that I need to go down to the Department of Transportation sometime next week and have my picture taken for my renewed drivers license. I actually renewed it online back in September; thinking they would just send me a sticker that I could place on my old drivers licenses, but noooooooooo. If I want to totally renew it (meaning an actual new license) I have to go down and stand in line for hours. I'm dreading it.
Hope Cindy is mending well.
Hey Ron, I do hate standing in line at the DMV, this is why we normally use AAA for the registration part of it, the licensing part requires a trip down to the DMV for us also, I suppose if you want a new license we have no choice..Right?
DeleteThank You Buddy she is coming along well.
Great ending, and I also hope Cindy is recouping.
ReplyDeleteThank You Stephen, She is doing well.
DeleteI hope your bride is doing well. Um, you, too. (Don't want you to feel left out!) Georgia laws have changed, so now, driver's license renewal requires applicants to show a certified birth certificate, social security card, two proofs of residency, and for married women, a marriage certificate. That Spanish-speaking gal would be outta luck. (Then again, it sounds like she was outta luck THERE, too.)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
Hey Susan, Thank you my Friend Cindy is coming along really well, oh yeah I'm hanging in there too Ha Ha
DeleteWhen we first moved here we needed about that much documentation to change our drivers license over to a California license, I even went so far as to take the test for my motorcycle license while I was at it, picture me leaning on forearm crutches taking a motorcycle license test Ha Ha
I am not sure what the Spanish speaking lady was after but her failure to speak English farce went away quickly :)
Happy New Year Susan
The DMV is the place to avoid, but it sounds like so is the AAA. We have mail in registration here, thank goodness. I'm with Middle Child in that being married no longer counts for much. Last year, I had trouble depositing a check made out to my husband, that he had signed, into a bank account with my name, but payable on death in his name.
ReplyDeleteHi Bijoux, We do our best to avoid the DMV, I like the online version which is almost too easy, AAA is usually really easy not sure what happened this time, I am hoping it's a one time deal :)
DeleteIt's pretty bad when the privacy act hides your information from your own spouse.
Hey Jimmy! Happy New Year! After reading about Cindy, it's clear that because of my blogging absence, I need to do some catching up here. I'll be back later to do just that.
ReplyDeleteI'v never had a single negative issue at AAA. I hope they haven't ordered their employees to start up-selling. I hate paperwork of all types. I've spent most of my working life dealing with it and really don't want to do it EVER again...
I'll be back to catch up.
Hey Pat, Good to see you my Friend and a Happy New Year to you and your family also.
DeleteThis is the first Snafu we have ever had with AAA, like you I wonder if they are simply pushing memberships right now.
I look forward to hearing from you soon my Friend.
Doing ANYTHING online is never easy for me. I don't know if I just naturally miss one of the lines with the required red asterisk next to it, or google just wants to rip MY staples out.
ReplyDeleteStanding in line I always pick a fight with someone just to make it interesting. But NOT if I'm standing in line at Walmart. I know my limits.
It is amazing at how many things you can do online now, some sites are much easier than others but miss one red asterisk and it does seem the staples get ripped out.
DeleteI am proud you know the limits at Wally World, sometimes fights breed there all by themselves :)
Tony's always throwing in that last line...
ReplyDelete...it's a wonder I'm not trying to kill him. :)
Hey Juli, It's a wonder we all don't get killed by our wives, throwing in that last line just comes out before you know it at times Ha Ha
DeleteI note some similarity between you and Cindy/ me and Mrs Jones. I'm the calm one, Mrs Jones is more like an unstable volcano!
ReplyDeleteHey Bryan, "unstable volcano" I like that as it is a perfect description at times Ha Ha
Delete