Lost in Cyberspace

I was at the copy store today waiting for a fax to go through. The fax machine was not cooperating - one job was failing and mine didn't want to go through. I engaged in conversation with the other fellow waiting.

My son got his driver license at 16. I remember taking him in and waiting while he took the written exam. He was so excited when he passed and could learn to drive the car. Then came the day for him to take the driver's test. I shuddered when his tester came up - she was stern and had a tough reputation and I felt a bit apprehensive as she went over her rules and they left. I sat and tried to read a book and time slipped by so slowly. They were gone so long that I was sure he had failed by the time they walked back in. He seemed now as somber and quiet as she - I couldn't tell from his expression or body language how the test had gone. I waited until she finished talking and filling out paperwork and he moved toward the counter. I walked over and stood aside as he sat for his driver license photo. He was so proud of his accomplishment when we walked out.

Two months later, he came in from riding the three wheeler to tell me that he had lost his drivers license while out and couldn't find it.

"Not a problem." I told him. "Just go back down to DMV and get a new one." Next day he came in to tell me that he couldn't get a new one. "Why not?" I asked.

"They told me that I don't have a driver's license." That was all I could get. So next day I went down with him. The lady behind the counter repeated the words.

"He doesn't have a driver's license."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"He doesn't have a driver's license. He does have a state ID."

For the next two weeks I went in. They searched all the data systems in the state and came up with the same result.

Now the director and I got into words. "He has a state ID. That's all he has ever had."

"That's not true!" I countered. "I came in and sat while he took the written exam. I sat here while he took the driver portion and I can even show you which tester took him out. I watched them take his photo, I saw the license and he drove my car for six months with it!"

"Then you let him drive illegally!" He shot back.

"He has a driver license." I stated.

"You don't know the difference between a state ID and a driver license, ma'am." The director said coldly.

We were standing at the counter and for the second time in two days our voices raised to draw attention from those around.

"I have worked security where I had to check both!" I shot back. "I am very well aware of the difference between a driver license and a state ID and I am telling you that he has a driver license!" I was at a loss about what to do now, other than start all over again. But just before I gave up, I turned back to the girl behind the counter. "Do me one favor." I said.

"What?" She asked.

"Type in this spelling of his last name." I spelled it out slowly as she typed.

"I found him!" She exclaimed.

"No! You didn't! I did. Now tell me. Does he have a driver license?"

"Yes, he does." I was watching the director as she spoke.

"He spelled his name wrong." She went on.

"I think if you look at the paperwork, you will find out that he spelled his name correctly. But everyone else manages to switch the second and third letters." I told her.

A month later, I got the registration for our big truck in the mail and noticed that the name was misspelled in the same exact manner. I went back to DMV and we went through the same game again. They wanted to charge me $25.00 for a new title and paperwork. "You probably misspelled your name on the original paperwork." The clerk told me. I refused to pay or accept paperwork with the incorrect spelling.

"I think if you check that, you will find that I do know how to spell my name!" I told her.

Two weeks later, they called to tell me that they had gone back through state records, "You spelled your name correctly on the original paperwork." She now said.

"No kidding!" I exclaimed. "So you are issuing new paperwork with the correct spelling and not charging me?"

I took back my maiden name when I divorced and that name is far more simple than my married name. However, I have found that no one knows how to spell it. When I am asked for my name I spell it first, so that it goes into the computer right the first time. One letter out of order, taken out or added in and you cease to exist or records disappear.

Recently, I ordered a new birth certificate and when I got the new and improved version from my home state, one name was missing and when I took the birth certificate to a state office to apply for a job, I was told that it was an illegal document. Because of the omission of one name, a new person had been created. So I started through the process of correcting it.

"Oder on line." I was told.

So I tried - when I completed the state form, I got a message stating - "We can not confirm your identity. Please send a copy of your driver license to this address with $22.00 to cover the cost of one copy of your birthy certificate."

I had to laugh at that! My driver license doesn't have all the names on it! So I called the county seat and talked to a girl who was able to find the correct documents in her computer. So I sent them $10. and got two copies!

And I thought computers were suppose to make our life easier!!!