People are so different out on the Left Coast.
Blissful Carol went out of her way to find another DMV office near Oceanside with an opening on the 18th. She directed me to smog testers in the area. She informed me that AAA could also take the vehicle registration if we were AAA members, and then we wouldn’t need our appointment at the DMV. Then she told me humorous Californian stories while waiting for her computer to tally up the total bill. ($113. Not bad. Less expensive than Michigan.)
It’s not often when you can find someone who enjoys his/her job at all, much less with this level of intensity. Even I have my moments of work ambivalence, when I answer the phone with less than ecstasy and with my tone bordering terse. But, for a person who works at the DMV to be so jovial at all, much less at three in the afternoon, makes me feel ashamed of my sometimes-abrupt tonality and sour attitude.
By the end of our conversation, I didn’t want to say goodbye to Helpful Carol. She was just too freaking fun to talk to. I implored her to come to Michigan and give personality lessons to our own Secretary of State employees. God knows they need a primer on polish and courtesy.
If she did, I might enjoy standing in line there the next time I have to renew my license.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
It's almost as if you're assuming government employees in California are nuttier than a pile of squirrel turds.
2 - bliffle
Same as my recent experiences with the DMV. They straightened out some complexities I had with about 3 vehicles, then a guy went thru the fees and found ways to reduce them about 1/3.
Maybe the DMV held a charm school. Maybe the people were stung by their reputations for being slow and obtuse.
Whatever it is, it has made them a lot easier to deal with.
3 - Joanne Huspek
No, Matthew, I think our version here in Michigan is nuttier. That's why they're so cranky. Charm school is a great idea for anyone who has to deal with the public.