Staying Put!

One thing I really need to accomplish while being in the states for such a long time is to obtain a drivers license. I have been driving in Bahrain for the past year without one. Yes I just admitted to breaking the laws of Bahrain, but I did have an international DL but no accompanying valid DL in any country.

We changed our residence twice after leaving Louisiana and I never registered a DL in either state with my moves. My LA drivers license expired six years ago and I didn't realize what a pain in the tush it would be to get a new license. In New Jersey there is a six point system to proving your identity, which I have, a proof of address, which I have and than since I haven't had a valid drivers license in six years it is like starting all over again. Now I did have a DL in New Jersey which expired in 1993 and they have the DL number for it. I also have my expired one from LA but they don't care. A few women sympathize with my situation but not enough to change the rules.

I failed my first written exam, I don't drink so I don't know how many points it takes on a breathalyzer to make it illegal for someone to drive. I don't think people should drink and drive at all. So that part of the test I failed. I'm also not a new driver, I've been driving since I was 17 and I don't know anything about these new crazy laws they have in NJ regarding their 'graduated license program'.

It must be hard on kids today, when I was 16 I went in for my permit and got my DL not long after. I passed the first time around and didn't have to wait for so long. Now with the new insane set of laws you can get a permit at 16 as long as your enrolled in a driving school than you can drive with a license driver for six months and graduate to another level at 17 as long as you pass the road test. You than get a permit for 1 year and you have to drive with a license driver over 21 and only one other passenger and than pass the road test and get a regular license at 18.

I took the second written exam today and passed with room to spare but have to wait until August 3rd to take my road test. Yes I have to prove to someone that I can drive and I swear if I fail I will scream!! I need the drivers license in order to help Mr. Man drive to MO and to be honest I'm not his best passenger. Sure he has driven me a bit over the past eight years I've lived in Saudi but I usually complain.

He tends to have the habit on a highway of putting his foot on the gas than easing up, continuously. While it is so slight I don't think other people notice but I do and it annoys me. And he is also the type of man that has to go around the parking spot fifty times before he parks. In a spot you pointed out the first time around. DRIVES ME CRAZY!!! I still haven't learned to bite my tongue about it so he usually rants on about "I've been in the game for 10 years" don't ask because I can't explain it either. (I hear you Mr. Man.. your saying it now!!)

When we lived in the states and went out I was the driver, always. He didn't mind I think mainly because he drove a lot for work so it might have been nice for him not to drive. But I do think part of it is his unspoken acceptance that I'm a better driver. Sure the Saudi in him will never admit it, but I know Mr. Man I know.

I was kind of hoping that someone might take a look at me and listen to my situation and understand or at least look upon it as an act of American liberation to the poor down beaten oppressed woman who has experienced gender discrimination for the past eight years. Why couldn't I get some ultra feminist determined to free me from my oppression with a NJ drivers license? I don't care how much of a farce all that is I'll go with it for the license. I don't want to have to take my father along on our outings or beg my brother for a ride. I want to be the grown woman of five children that I am and be freely mobile, like I am in Saudi. But no, I got some guy who folded his arms and I swear has never smiled in his life as he uttered "tell me the story".

Considering that I need the license I have to stay here until the road test than Mr. Man will be here and we will leave together. Probably the best plan anyway I really don't want to uproot these kids time after time traveling off to the unknown and showing up on peoples door steps. Jihad is in a baseball camp for two weeks, his nick name is wheels because he can move around those bases. My father is still in the hospital, saw him today he looks better and his room mate wants to sign Jihad up for football (older man was a coach for twenty five years a talker like my father).

I also laid it down to my brother and said enough is enough!! This will be our last visit so he has to get with it even if he doesn't want to. I don't care if he frowns the entire time, gives me and the kids someone to joke about. I don't care if he complains, I don't care if his girlfriend leaves him (yea she was jealous of me, his sister, I say not a healthy relationship but he can't see it). I don't care if I took over his house he is hardly here anyway. I just care about making the best of this mess as much as I can for the sake of my kids. Thank God they are easy to please (they were excited about bunnies in the backyard today and lightening bugs) and will just go with the flow.