Have you ever had to do something, put it off, then when you finally psych yourself up to do it you can’t? Over & over?? I bet the Eskimo have a phrase for it.
This is the PennDOT Driver License Center in downtown Pittsburgh, on 708 Smithfield. (It’s hard to believe I worked downtown for 28 years, on this street alone 10 of those years.) Anyway, my driver’s license expired November 1, 2021. I’d been notified over the summer my license was set to expire and to return the enclosed form to get my official camera-card to take to PennDOT to renew.
SEPTEMBER 2021
I’ve got my camera card and I figure as long as I’m down there, I’ll get my “Real ID”. In a year you won’t be able to enter a federal building or fly on a commercial plane without one.
I gather the documents I’m told I need: 1) Photo ID 2) Social Security card 3) Birth certificate 4) couple items of mail with my name on them, like a utility bill.
I take the bus downtown, go to the DLC, tell the guy in front I’m there to renew my license, told where to sit, when it’s my turn I ask about the Real ID—I’m sent to another group to wait.
THIS IS NOT A BIRTH CERTIFICATE. Then what the heck is it??
This is just to let you know you DO have one—somewhere! “Sorry Mr. Morris… you’ll know you have the right document when it has a RAISED seal in the corner.”
OCTOBER 2021
I’m placed on new hypertension meds, develop severe edema in both legs. There’s no way I can walk the 4-6 blocks to PennDOT again from my bus dropoff.
NOVEMBER 2021
My license has now expired. Edema is no better.
DECEMBER 2021
Legs are better, but I’m busy with holiday stuff! The license can wait!
JANUARY 2022
Holy smokes, I gotta stop putting this off! I head back downtown with my documents and real birth certificate.
THIS IS NOT A BIRTH CERTIFICATE. Then what the hell is it!!!
Record of birth! Raised seal! “Sorry Mr. Morris, this is not a state approved birth certificate.” She tells me where to go for a state approved one. I’d like to tell her where to—okay Doug, knock it off!
FEBRUARY 2022
It’s 10 below zero! The sidewalks are covered in ice! To hell with PennDOT! To hell with a new drivers license!
MARCH 2022
It occurs to me that I never got around to requesting a new birth certificate. I call the Pa. Dept of Health. It will take 2-3 weeks to process the request AFTER they get my application.
“Will I get it by April 1?” “Hmm, you’re cutting it close.”
If I don’t renew my drivers license by April 1, I WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE WRITTEN EXAM AND DRIVERS TEST ALL OVER AGAIN.
Panic sets in. Why did I screw around with this?? That woman at the DLC said I must’ve provided a state birth certificate when I applied for my drivers license.
I sold my car a couple years ago, but there’s a bag labeled CAR STUFF in my bedroom closet containing a Garmin GPS, some music cds, a travel mug & assorted papers. I wonder…
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE. It was in the bag of car stuff.
I got up at the crack of dawn yesterday (well, it felt like the crack of dawn), gobbled down a bowl of cereal, fiddled with my hair then ran downstairs to catch the Business Flyer (my former work bus) downtown. I can’t believe I used to do this 5 days a week.
While waiting my turn for the THIRD time, a woman in the next row was crying and shouting something in Spanish. When it was my turn, I asked “Is that woman going to be okay?” The woman at the window shrugged her shoulders and said “She waited too long to renew her license. We cannot help her.”
Gulp. I stood there while she went thru all my documents. After several agonizing minutes she looked up. “Alright Mr. Morris, your REAL ID stamped license will arrive in the mail in 3 weeks. Here is your temporary license. Please head over to the photo section to get your picture taken. I’d say you have a… 15 minute wait.”
Lady, I’ve got all the time in the world.
I had no idea you could have so many different birth certificates, now you are making wonder where mine is, and if it "official". Glad you got your driving licence sorted out in time!
ReplyDeleteThank you Joey! 🙂
DeleteOnly one says "Certificate of Birth" Doug! Times have changed though. When our girls were born we didn't get any hospital record of birth or notification that we registered from a birth certificate. The nurse just came in, told us to fill out a form very precisely and let us be. The actual birth certificate came in the mail several weeks later.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how it was done when I was a baby. I was adopted by my step-father as a young boy so do to the name change, my birth certificate can only be obtained from the state level. I take very good care of it since it took quite a bit of time and effort to obtain.
Very interesting Ed, I didn't know that about your having a stepdad. Wait, your dad who set out on that long journey with his bike; was that your stepdad or your birthdad? PS. Begging your pardon, but the second document up there has the words birth and certificate on it, just not together! 😄
DeleteHe is my stepdad though for all intents and purposes, he really is the only father I've ever had.
DeleteOh thanks for clarifying Ed. That is sweet for you to feel that way too.
DeleteWhew! How's the blood pressure?
ReplyDeleteOne says it registered your birth, one is the pretty record of birth from the hospital. Mine has my tiny footprints on it. Yep, that state one is the birth certificate. It's also the one genealogy folks want. And the "Real ID" people.
Thinking like a car was a good idea. You buy the car and get a receipt. You apply for a title and it has lots of juicy info. Then, you finally get the real Title. Yep, the title is what the next owner wants.
At least you don't have any liens on your real birth certificate.
I keep such items in my safe deposit box at the bank, and a copy in my home files.
Glad you got the real ID. Will make life easier in the future. Linda in Kansas
My God, what an ordeal! I have to have mine renewed every 2 years, as I am older than 72 yrs old.
ReplyDeleteEvery 2 years!! I'm sorry Gigi, I'm not looking forward to that! 😮
DeleteWhew! I'm glad you were able to get your Real ID. I have mine too:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue, and good for you. The woman at the DLC told me they're expecting an avalanche of requests for real ID in the first couple months of 2023. 🤐
DeleteSorry that was so difficult for you, Dug. We got ours when we renewed our DL a while back (2018). Didn't bring anything that I'm aware of except old DL. And I too am wondering if we still have our birth certificates somewhere (and if they're the real thing). Will have to check that out.
ReplyDeleteWhat! Rian you just needed your old DL for your Real ID? Maybe the laws are different per state, I had to bring in 5 items! Anyway, I'm glad things were easier for you and I hope you find your real birth certificates, I guess mine is lost to history. 🙄
DeleteYikes, do they provide therapy when you finally get it? That was scary about possibly having to take your drivers test again. Lucky me, I have a dread fear of flying and can see no need for one for which I am grateful. You did make me check but my regular driver's license is good till 2025. Ahhh.
ReplyDeletePatti my dear, no therapy is needed! I can't tell you the sweet relief I felt yesterday after getting approved. I haven't flown in 20 years so I may never need that blasted Real ID, but at least I have it and this gave me something dorky to blog about. PS. Yes very fearful about having to take does driving tests again. There's no way I'd pass! 🤐
DeleteHi Doug, goodness, now I am panicking wondering where my birth certificate is! With the pandemic we were encouraged to renew our driver’s license online. For some reason I had to go to our local license bureau though to get a new photo but Chuck didn’t and we renewed at the same time.🤨
ReplyDeleteGlad you were finally able to get everything done.
Enjoy your weekend.❤️❤️
Robin, I WANTED to renew my license online! But in the state of Pennsylvania only the people who renewed in 2020 could do that. I got gypped out! Well I had to go in anyway for the real ID, I don't know if you critters in Canada have that, I'm not sure why we do! Anyway thank you for your always kind comment and hope you guys have a great weekend too. 🙂♥️👍
DeleteWe don’t have Real ID. Everyone seems satisfied if you have a drivers license for various things. A friend of mine hasn’t driven in 20 years but keeps up on her drivers license just to have it as a form of ID.
DeleteOh Doug, I'm so sorry you went through all that! It sure didn't help your blood pressure either. I'm glad to know I am not the only one that puts things like that off. Over a year ago I tried to get my Real ID. I was very diligent about getting all my papers together. You have to show proof of name changes and I am in my second marriage so I had to bring a lot of documents. After standing outside the building in a long line I was told my papers were not correct. I needed proof of my first marriage, which I brought, but it didn't have some number it needed. I had proof of my divorce from that marriage and proof of my current marriage but they weren't happy. Since my first marriage was in another state (California) I have to contact them to get a new marriage certificate even though I have proof of my divorce from that marriage. Arrrg! I was so frustrated that I just got a regular driver's license and I still don't have my Real ID! Sorry to write so much here but I figured "driver's license office misery" likes company! I'm happy to know that you will be getting your Real ID now!
ReplyDeleteBonnie, don't apologize thanks for sharing! I feel bad for almost chuckling while reading this, but boy did you give them a run for their money! Oh shoot, I'm sorry you still don't have yours! Well if character references help, I'd be glad to offer one. 🙂 PS. Bonnie if you saw people on your blog, I liked that recent one with your mom so much I sent a link to it to a couple friends. 🙂♥️
DeleteAhh, thanks Doug! ❤😀
DeleteThis is an excellent post, illustrating bureaucratic insanity at its finest. I THINK I have an official birth certificate somewhere (hospital ones don't count). I do have a passport so I'm holding off on the hassle of the real ID, especially after reading this post. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret and you sure are right about hospital ones not counting! Anyway if you have a passport I think you're okay... And speaking of flying, I hope your trip went okay. 🙂👍
DeleteI'm glad you remembered the bag of car stuff and found the birth certificate. I was very surprised to find mine, given to me by my mother, is a photocopy so wasn't acceptable as proof when I applied for a replacement photo ID card after losing mine on a bus. (Jacket with too shallow pockets) Anyway I took in all other documents from my parents and discovered the whole damn lot are photocopies! I actually began wondering if they were my real parents and who the heck am I? Finally got the replacement card by producing marriage, divorce and name change certificates.
ReplyDeleteRiver, forgive me but you made me laugh out loud here! I'm very glad you were able to get your own ID cleared up! 🙂👍👍
DeleteGosh! What a time you had! I sure am glad you got it done though. I'm going to be in trouble. When I have to renew my license, I'm going to have to take the road test and I don't drive anymore. I guess I'll have to get the State ID instead. Sigh...
ReplyDeleteKay, thank you for the nice comment and why will you have to take the road test?? Please explain! 😮 I haven't driven in a couple years, but who knows what's down the road, which is why I didn't want to go the state ID route.
DeleteYou have to take a road test after 70. Siiighhh...
DeleteOops! I just checked. It's after 72 that you have to take the road test. Well, that's still me.
DeleteWow! Did not know this! Well, I have a few years to cross that bridge... geez I guess it makes sense. Thanks Kay.
DeleteWhew!!! Reminded me of how miffed I was when I was told my original birth certificate was no longer government acceptable. Anyway, I appreciate now that bureaucracy needs uniformity and I've calmed down about it. In five years, when I turn 80, I'll have to prove that I'm still save to drive. Maybe I should start studying for the test now.
ReplyDeleteFlorence, thanks for sharing--I didn't know this was such a universal pain in the butt. Wow, so at age 80 you're required to prove you can drive in Canada. I wonder if that's the same here? ♥️🙄
DeleteWhat a runaround! I just renewed my recently expired passport and hope that will be enough when I need to get my drivers license renewed next year. Glad you found your "real" birth certificate! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you DJan, and you should be good if you're just renewing your license. This was me trying to get a real ID, which if I had a passport like yourself I would've been spared this drama! 🙂♥️👍
DeleteAs I relate in my post Do You Have a Real ID? from June 2021, I got my Real ID in PA, no muss, no fuss. I think the key was a passport. I have a passport. By contrast, as I bemoan in my August 2016 post Beaten by the Bureaucracy, my wife and I had a horrible time getting a license when we moved to Connecticut a few years ago. I guess it's all a crap shoot. Hope your document arrives as promised.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom--I did check out your June 2021 piece, I wonder why yours was $60.00? Mine was exactly half that, $30.00.
DeleteI might add that using a passport will be adequate ID. You won't have to provide any other documents at all. Just your passport.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gigi, I was aware of that but I don't own a passport personally, in fact I don't think I know anybody that does in my physical life. 🙂
DeleteDavid and I both own passports.
Delete