2019 – Week 22a – Crashing the System

So, Friday I had a fun time at the DMV.

You might wonder if that is even possible. It is!

It was time for me to renew my license, so I had planned to be there about 15 minutes before they opened, in order to be one of the first in line, in order to minimize my time spent there.

Well, that didn’t work – I got there about 15 minutes after opening, so I had to wait in line to get my number to wait in line. Yep – pretty much how the DMV works everywhere. (There was the first time I could have lost my cool.) This year, I was going to get the upgraded ID that I can use starting in 2020 to board aircraft, etc., without a passport. I thought I had all the correct documentation, but apparently I didn’t. (That was my second opportunity to lose my cool.) I took my seat to wait, and wait, and wait. About thirty minutes later, my number was called.

I approached station six of fifteen, and began the process of renewing my license. I handed over my ID, took the eye-exam, answered the questions, signed the pad, stepped back and took the picture, and it was time to pay – and that’s when it happened –

The computer crashed. (next opportunity to lose my cool). I had a choice. I could get ugly, or I could get happy. Brad, the DMV clerk that was helping me, got embarrassed and apologetic. I reassured him that it was no problem – I was scheduled to help a friend move when I was finished at the DMV and assured him that I’d rather stay there with him than pack and move boxes.

He rebooted, and we started again – I took another picture and signed the pad. And then again. . . the dreaded spinning wheel of death. (Next place to lose my cool.) I felt sorry for Brad as he got on his phone to call the HELP desk. While he was on hold, he told me that when one station goes down, it’s usually a state-wide problem. How about that! I crashed the whole state of Kansas! Awesome! I told him it was my goal to be his favorite client of the day – that he would go home and talk about me at the dinner table, telling how the system crashed and he had this delightfully patient client who was happy and encouraging throughout the whole ordeal. 🙂

Brad ended up sending me to a different station where I had to start over again (another opportunity to lose my cool) – ID, eye test, photo, questions, signature, and when I was ready to pay – – you guessed it!!! (last chance to lose my cool) BUT, after a few seconds of the spinning wheel of death, the system recovered enough for me to pay and leave.

On the way home, I thought about how different my reaction was this time than it would have been before the Master Key Experience. Before, I would have been impatient, put-out, and though I would not have been outwardly rude, I certainly would not have been pleasant and encouraging to the folks at the DMV. Now – totally different, – – and how do I know I’m different – because I had fun at the DMV! I hope I blessed Brad, and became his favorite client of the day!