Of course taking a driver's license picture was/is a big deal! For one thing, it's the picture you have to keep with you for a few years. Once you hit 21, it's the picture you flash multiple times. A few hundred bartenders and club bouncers have seen that picture.
As the years go by, it's no longer bartenders or club bouncers checking to make sure I'm legit. Now hundreds, maybe even thousands, of Target register employees have seen my driver's license to make sure I'm legit enough to pay the bill. I mean I can't remember the last time I was at a club. I know damn well that the bartender who is checking to make sure I'm legal enough to drink is doing it for a larger tip or because they fear losing their job.
Just bring me my red wine! You don't have to schmooze me. You'll still get a tip.
Well the lovely DMV sent me a letter back in September reminding me that it's time to renew my driver's license. For the last 5 years, I've been able to keep my license and pay the usual renewal fees over the internet. This time the letter was different. This time the letter stated I needed to physically enter a DMV, get my finger scanned, take a new picture, and pay the renewal fees in person.
Really, you want me to physically enter a DMV and take a new picture? What's wrong with the 5 year old picture that I've been carrying around? Did I mention I'm happy with my picture? Did I mention I look young and fresh in my picture? What could possibly make the DMV think that I no longer look like that picture?
Thinking back on the last 5 years of my life, it dawned upon me that many life changing events have occurred. From the years 2005-2010, the following major events have taken place:
1.) graduated with my second college degree
2.) started a new career that requires me to put in crazy hours
3.) x3 moves
4.) purchased a house
5.) had 2 kids
6.) Did I mention the amount of stress that all of the above has put on me? Let's not forget the lack of sleep and healthy meals.
Now I wait. I'm eagerly waiting to see what my new driver's license picture looks like. No, I didn't get to preview the picture either. It's the DMV not a model shoot. They didn't allow me to take a few pictures so I could choose the best one. I didn't see a Photshop option either in any of the paperwork I was filling out.
To top it off, despite all of the above life changing events, my height AND weight have remained the same.
