January 5, 6, and 7
On Monday we headed for the Lancaster County Courthouse to get a Certified Marriage Certificate for me in case I needed it when applying for my Real ID. I have heard from ladies that had to do that to prove why their last name doesn’t match the one on their birth certificate. The original marriage certificate (which I had) does not work. It must be certified.
That went quickly and easily – except I noticed that my Grandpa Milton Hershey’s name was spelled Wilton. He is the one who married us. The clerk said that is not a problem. Grandpa made a fancy M when he wrote his name, so the clerk who entered it into courthouse records mistook it for a W.
I think the last time I have been to the courthouse was to apply for our marriage license – 63 years ago. I don’t think they updated anything since then except the security equipment.
Our daughter, Deb, was pretty sure I would not need the certified marriage certificate because I have a passport. I would rather have it and not need it that go to the DMV and need it.
On Tuesday, we had a meeting with our financial advisor, then went to the DMV on RT 30 East near Lancaster, where the room was full of people.
Because I needed my photo taken for my driver’s license renewal, I decided it was a good time to get my Real ID. We rarely go to a DMV because we go to a much smaller place where driver’s license photos can be taken with very little waiting.
At the DMV I had all the proper paperwork (birth certificate, passport, SS card, driver’s license, and two bills that prove I live at our house.) They didn’t need my certified marriage certificate.
My ticket said there were 85 people ahead of me!
Cerwin thought he had all his paperwork too but realized his SS card was not in his wallet. That meant he could not get a Real ID, but since his driver’s license renewal was coming up in a few months, the clerk said he could do the renewal while he was there.
He had 28 people ahead of him.
There are very few times in life that you need the actual SS card, if you know your number, but this is not one of them.
We waited and waited as many numbers were called to a variety of desks, finally after two hours, plus, Cerwin’s number was called.
I still had 60 people ahead of me.
I went to the desk with Cerwin because he likes me to be his “ears” especially in noisy rooms. When she asked for Cerwin’s renewal form, I explained why he was renewing his license early – because we had actually come for Real ID’s, but he didn’t have his SS card. I was able to get mine but still had 60 people ahead of me.
She said, “Let me see your ticket.” It was music to my ears when she said, “I will process yours too.” I told her she was my angel that day.
Both of us were quickly called to get our photos taken, and before long we were on our way to Red Lobster (in the same parking lot) for a very late lunch.
Both of us were hungry because we did not have lunch and it was now 3:30 pm.
Cerwin doesn’t like seafood, so ordered a cheeseburger. We both laughed when we saw the size of it. He ate all of the contents, but not all of the bun. I had lobster stew and a few coconut shrimp.
We continued to praise the Lord that we were in the restaurant and not waiting on the 60 people ahead of me. I expect we would have been there until closing time.
The next day I discovered credit card fraud on Cerwin’s credit card, so made a call to the credit card company. That wasn’t too difficult to solve, but now he must wait for a new credit card.
And, by the way Cerwin has not located his SS card, so our next business stop will probably be the Social Security Office. It is not an emergency because he has a passport, but he still wants to get one.