Adventures at the D.O.L.

Today I went to the department of licensing to renew my driver's license. One of my roommates drove me there and we showed up ten minutes before closing, fully expecting there to be a long, tedious line that we would never get through before closing. Fortunately, there were about as many people being helped or waiting as there were employees helping them, so I got up to the counter after about a minute. The woman who helped me took a look at my old license and said, "Are you going to open your eyes for the new picture?" and took a break from her stern physiognomy to wink at me. I assured her that I would and recalled having my passport photo taken two different times, because my eye-color was undetectable the first time! She quipped, "You almost look a little Asian!" Haha! I thought about dropping, "Czech, actually..." but refrained. I scribbled my autograph in the yellow box on the paper she gave me and walked over to the photo screen- you know, that fantastic blue backdrop? Priceless. I tried to look pleased while keeping my eyes open as the photo lady counted to three... the picture took on 2. I look slightly disgusted but otherwise quite good. :) Then as the woman finished printing off my temporary license we chatted about our favorite hometown: Edmonds. She lives over by the McDonald's that's on the curvy road leading down to the ferry. I expressed my interest, and then we talked about transportation between Edmonds and Bellingham. I encouraged her to try the train sometime. :) It was an unexpected delight to have so much in common with the D.O.L. lady. What a memorable birthday!