I have silently resigned to the fact that for the next couple of years, the big bus will be my mode of transport. Unless OKC goes public…my dada wins $1 million in his free lotto game he religiously plays everyday or maybe if my takes pity on me and gives me a VW bug for my 25th birthday! (Hint! Hint!) Well, till such time I will ride the bus and come back and religiously report every little detail that happens to me on my ride to school. 

I saw a large billboard sign, which said:   BANK ONLINE AND NOT IN-LINE!

Oh yes! America has reached. Everything, from a bank account statement, paying your credit card bills, insurance bills, loan payments and telephone bills is online. There is absolutely no need for anyone to go anywhere, stand in line and pay our bills. Now, it is just pop, look and click away.

Almost all of America in online but there are some things that cannot be done with the magic mantra. Like a driver’s license for example. My husband had to stand in line for 4 hours just to pick up a registration form for his driver’s license. He moved from Michigan to California, which requires he gets a new state license. He came home thoroughly disgruntled and clearly annoyed. 

What can I say? Poor guy thought when he left India to come to the land of opportunity, he also left the smelly R.T.O offices, crumbling passport offices…only to find out that there are some things which cannot be avoided anywhere in the world. America has spoiled him rotten. He is so used to doing everything online that he forgets that one is still expected to wear a good pair of shoes, take ½ day off work and wear your patience cap too and stand in line!

Well, the DMV office is unlike anything in India. It is clean, bright airy and organized.  And most importantly there are no “agents” prancing around, acting all-important and cutting the line and walking straight inside. It does not bother them in the least if there are 300 people standing in line waiting for their turn. Let’s face it; as much as I love my Bharat-ma, she has [more] than her share of flaws and shortcomings. 

Well, coming back to my husband, it took me a long time to calm his nerves and pacify him. Well, I know now, that he will think twice before moving to another state now!

Hubby dear, there are some things that you have to do IN-line, for everything else there is America ON-LINE!!

- LKS