Up and going early again today.  When does the leisurely life of retirement happen?  We are off to Lufkin so we can get into the social security office and apply for "modern" SS cards.  And that is so we can have our multiple forms of identification to get our driver licenses.

I remember that in my youth Texas was a state that was rated as having the best roads in the country.  I think they have let that slip away from them.  Both the roads to Conroe and Lufkin were what I remembered about them being roomy with large, paved shoulders but they were not smooth.  They are not rough because of pot-holes or cracks or things like that.  They were just beaten down into dips and bulges that made for a less than comfortable ride in a big old stiff-suspension truck.

We found our way to the SS office, took our number and waited to be called to a window.  Happily it was not long and the request for replacement cards was a breeze.  It was early still when we finished so we took the opportunity to go to Sam's Club for some groceries.  In preparation for being in places where getting access to fresh food will be a challenge, we have been trying to stock up on things like dried onions, herbs and mushrooms.  We have been finding everything except the mushrooms.  According to their website, Sam's should have big containers of Tone's but we have been to three different Sam's in two states and have not found any yet.  We may have to resort to an internet order.

On the drive back to Livingston, Cyndee is starting to show signs of taking pressure about the driver license test.  We do not get to just roll our Georgia license over to Texas.  Texas has laws that require different classes of licensing based on the weight of your vehicle.  And it does not matter how much, or little your vehicle actually weighs, the decision is based on it's maximum rated capacity.  Anything rated at 26,001 lbs or greater requires an exempt class-A license.  In other words, a commercial driver license that is not valid for driving for hire, just personal use.  But you have to take the truck driver/commercial test.  Big Gulp only weighs 9,000 lbs sitting at the curb but is rated for 33,000 lbs.  We're taking the commercial test. 

The study handbook for the test is 155 pages of small type that goes into great detail about load rigging, clearance lights placement, weight, shifting, braking, taxi cabs, busses and just tons of other stuff that have nothing to do with pulling an RV.  It is what it is, we have to get through it.  Our evenings have been spent reviewing the handbook and asking each other questions out of the study guide.  Cyndee even found a trucking company website that had practice tests.  We both took, and failed these tests a couple of times.  But we finally got to the point we could pass.  Today we are going to do it for real.

This time the TDPS was satisfied with all our documentation and started putting us in the 'system'.  Digital fingerprints were taken first, then we had to step up to the blue screen for the photo.  The camera is on a fixed mount and operated digitally by the agent.  She does not touch the camera, in fact she sits about 3 feet away.  So when it was my turn, I stepped to the spot and watched a perplexed look come over the agent's face.  It would seem that the range that the camera can 'see' does not reach to my height of 6'5".  The agent kept asking me to back up but I was already pressed against the blue screen so I offered to spread my legs and squat down.  When I did I suddenly heard a bunch of muffled laughter.  It would seem that all the people waiting in line were getting a kick out of my situation.  Glad I could provide them with a little relief from a mind-numbing process.

Cyndee got seated at a computer station for the 20 question test first.  She got started while I fumbled through getting my picture taken.  But when I sat down at the computer next to her, mine would not recognize my login credentials.  I had to wait while the agent was processing somebody else for a license.  Now mind you, all this is in close quarters.  Cyndee and I were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder and the counter where the agent was is no more than five feet away.  I was trying to mind my own business but I kept hearing Cyndee making sounds like she was trying to lift a heavy load or something.  I briefly turned my head to see if she was okay and I could see that she was stuck on a question and sweating the answer.  I had no more than looked Cyndee's way when we heard a voice say; "Keep your eyes on your own screen!".  We both looked over at the agent who was leaning around the person at the counter and looking at us with a smile of amusement on her face.  "Yes ma'am."  And again there was muffled laughter from the crowd.

But that is okay, we both PASSED.  Cyndee was so excited she danced all the way out to the truck.  And she danced in the seat on the way to the campground.  And she danced into the camper.  It has been awhile since I saw her this jazzed up.

But hold on sports fans.  That is not the end, we now have to take the driving test.  And it has to be in a truck with a trailer that is of the weight class we are getting the license for.  The schedule for the driving tests is pushed all the way out into the middle of next month here in Livingston.  We cannot hang around that long as we have to be in Kansas by the 8th of July.

We have a dear friend up in the panhandle of Texas, who also happened to be my roommate in college and in our wedding.  He has a business that has heavy equipment and he is going to let us borrow a truck and flatbed trailer to take our test with.  This way we will not have to pack up our whole house and take it down to the DPS and drag it all over town for the test.  And that means that Cyndee will get to practice driving it for a couple of days before the test.  Plus, the flatbed will be easier to do the backing part of the test.  Yes, Cyndee is going to have to drive a medium duty truck with a trailer and turn corners without running over curbs, or worse, and do a backing test.  We hope that they will just ask us to back in a straight line.  Some testing places actually want you to parallel park!

We are going to start drifting north on Saturday.  We have a few days in a couple of state parks between here and the panhandle, but we will get there the weekend before the 4th of July.