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The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat isn't just for sports. I was at the DMV last month to renew my driver's license for another four years. Technology may have changed the process, but some things at the DMV never change.

When I walked in, a large sign instructed me to take a number - I was number 142. The bright red LED display above read 118. Why didn’t I remember to bring a book... I settled into a chair because it was obviously going to be a while.

There was a woman seated in an area across the aisle from me. Every few minutes she got up, paced the floor and then sat down again. I assumed she was in a hurry since it had already been ten minutes and the LED board was only up to 120. The woman smiled at me, aware that I had noticed her, and I smiled back. And then she continued her pacing.

The numbers on the board clicked by, 124, 127, 132. About the time the board reached 138, a young man came walking toward the waiting area from the other side the room. The pacing woman stood the moment she saw him, and he walked directly toward her. He was smiling, and so was she. A really big smile. He mouthed the words... “I passed”. They talked for a few minutes and then the young man went around the corner to get his picture taken for his new driver’s license. The woman walked over to me, almost giddy with relief and said, “I was a little nervous; I’m so glad he passed”. We chatted briefly and then her son returned. She handed him the car keys and out the door they went.

The board had ticked its way to 140, when a woman I hadn’t noticed sitting in front of me the whole time stood up. She was looking at a teen walking our way from the other side of the room. He wasn’t smiling and every step seamed heavy. “I didn’t pass”, he said with his head hanging down. She assured him that it was okay, and that they would come back to take the test again.

Finally - number 142. I walked to the clerk, handed him my paperwork and smiled for the camera. Five minutes later, I had my new license. If my calculation is correct, that was probably my eighth or ninth renewal since I went for my very first driver’s license at 16. Parallel parking was tricky for me then, so passing wasn’t a sure thing. But when the test was over, and I ran to tell my father that I had passed, there was no greater feeling. Some things at the DMV never change.

My first car, a 1977 Datsun B210

Did you pass your driver’s test on the first try? At what age did you get your first license? 

I’ll be driving myself to QVC on Saturday morning. I hope I’ll see you there for AM Style! 

~Leah

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