Last week I went again to the DMV for a reactivation of my handicapped placard. Guess what? It was closed! There was a "Closed" sign on the door, but no explanation. I tried calling the California DMV to get more information, but could only reach computer prompts. As you may recall I had a leg fracture at the Symphony parking lot a couple months ago. I was hoping the musicians would set up a shrine in my honor, at the notorious spot: complete with cross and flowers. So far, none has been erected. Then a few weeks after that calamity, I fell again and fractured a vertebra in my back. I just turned 60, but the way I have been hobbling around, I feel like 60 is the new 80!
Back to the DMV. With no helpful information on the phone, I decided to wing it and drive down to the Redwood City Office. They were closed as well. Nuts! When I got home, I called DMV again, and found out that they were closed for Cesar Chavez Day. I think that might have been April Fool's Day as well. At any rate, I gathered my courage and went the following day.
When I arrived in the parking lot, there was a line of at least 100 people coming out the door. I asked one of the people if the handicapped (and with my cane and limp, I am the poster child of handicapped) had to wait in the line. A very nice young couple said I should go in and ask the security guard. He told me to go to the front of the appointments line, where I was helped within five minutes. I then had to sit and wait about 10 minutes until my number was called on the TV screen. I then sashayed over to Window 8 (as well as someone can with a cane) and received my new handicapped card. I asked the clerk if he had had a nice day off, to which he laughed and said yes, it was a state holiday. Live and learn! And now I can drive with confidence knowing that I will be able to use handicapped parking spots, if I can ever find an empty one!
