Official

We made our move official today. We applied for new drivers’ licenses.

Minnesota keeps the records active for your license for five years. Since we were only gone 3 1/2 years, we were still in the system. Dave renewed his in January of ’08. Mine was due in July of ’08 but since we left in June, I didn’t renew mine. That meant I timed out of the renewal window. Dave got to just renew his. I had to take the knowledge test. (They no longer call it the written test since I got to take it on a computer.)

I recently read all the Minnesota Driver’s Manual except the part about DUI since I don’t drink. Yup, there were at least three questions about alcohol and driving. I guessed right on two of them. So, I got a score of 94% right (missed one other one that I felt had trick wording then guessed wrong as to what they were really after). Still I felt pretty good about doing so well.

And the line was shorter for those taking the test so I actually got done before Dave did which amazed me.

At least we didn’t have to take the behind-the-wheel test which is good because I know some of our driving habits have gotten a little sloppy over the years. Plus they changed some guidelines. For instance, I was taught to hold my hands at the 10 and 2 positions to have the best control of the wheel. With the standard installation of airbags, they changed that rule but I didn’t know that until reading the manual. How do I learn to hold the wheel differently after all these years? And two-lane roundabouts? Didn’t have those in the US back when I was a teenager but now I know what I’m supposed to do in those–at least in Minnesota. 🙂

Unfortunately, Minnesota doesn’t just hand you a license right then and there like South Dakota does. They cut a corner off your old license to invalidate it then hand it back to you to use as ID. They also give you a huge piece of paper to act as your temporary license. If you get stopped, you are supposed to give both to the cop. The paper does NOT fit well in the ID pocket of my card case. But the new ones will eventually come in the mail and we’ll be all set again.

Tomorrow license plates and an attempt to get my handicapped placard without having to visit the doctor again. I’m hoping the fact that my SD application was signed by a Minnesota doctor will be adequate. Or maybe I can just pay to replace a lost placard since I don’t think mine here actually expired. Wish me luck.

TTYL,

Linda