June 1st, 2009, this day last week, I told Mom that maybe I should just go ahead to the DMV and see if I could pass the test. (I just took a practice test online and only missed 1 question).

So when we went to Richmond that day, and our first stop was the DMV. Of course, as always, the place is jam packed full. It was difficult enough to find a section of three seats that were not being used. The place was very cold (probably to keep people's tempers from flaring) and the automated loudspeaker was annoying.

We had probably sat there for an hour before they called our ticket number, and then we went up. We gave the woman my birth certificate, Social Security Number, and Mom's driver's license. Then she found out that someone else had already been using SSN, and had to fax the SSN department to 'force' my name to my number (which took about another half an hour compared to her estimate of 10 minutes…).

Finally, after that, they had me go up and get my picture taken, and sign my name on the digital pad that doesn't show you what you write. Then I was told to sit down over in this group of chairs and wait for my name to be called.

I had only sat there a minute or two, an older man behind the desk called up another person. "You're on computer 4, closest to the window…. Err, I mean computer 5… Good luck."

So I waited, beginning to get nervous like I do with any tests. "SELF", called the older man. I was somewhat taken off guard, because I was expecting him to say my entire name, I walked up to the desk and said "Yes sir.". "You're on computer number 4. Good luck." "Thank-you, Sir", I replied, and walked into the row of computers, clean to the back at computer number 4.

Now is when the nervous frustration really began. I started to sweat, and my legs began to shake. The computer was a touch-screen system; No mouse or keyboard. I began reading over the initial rules, stuff like "You are not allowed to ask for assistance, or carry a cellphone into the testing zone. If you are caught, in any way, requesting for help, your test will be immediately terminated.", and "You are only allowed to take one test per business day."

"Great", I thought, if I fail this test, I don't get to take another one today, and have to go through all of this over again.

The computer gave me a few practice questions so I could get the feel of how the machine operated. Then after that, I really began the test. Everything was multiple choice with big buttons beside the choices. Pressing continue told you whether or not your got the correct answer.

I was continually asking the Lord for strength and wisdom to pass the questions. Then I got to one like "What is the speed limit for a residential area with no speed limit posted?", I chose "35MPH", I think. Incorrect. Then the next one was "What is the speed limit for a business area with no speed limit posted?" I chose "45MPH". Incorrect!

Bah. I went through a couple more questions, and there was "If you change your address, how soon must you notify DMV?". For some reason, 45 days stuck out to me, so I selected that one. Incorrect!

By this time, I already have it set in my head that I have failed. Utterly failed. I completed the last several questions, and then the score screen appeared. I didn't look at the numbers. All I saw was "Passed". WHEW!

I slowly walked back up to the desk with the older man. He looked at his computer screen and then congratulated me for passing. After that, we waited a little bit more and then they gave us the forms so Mom can be the one teaching me driving, instead of some in-car training program in Louisa or something.

But, they didn't print off and give me the card right then and there. They said that they would mail it to me. Five days later, it showed up in the mail. So then this past Saturday, Dad made me drive out the road to the trash place, to and from.

Overall, I am just glad that I actually passed the test, so I don't have to go back there and do all of that over again. The next person in line is Lacy, now that she's 16 years old and 3 months