We Got Our Real IDs Today

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Well ... we got our Real IDs today. It has been so stressful for me as a female. Skip never had any problem getting his ... men don't. Why do I say that? Because when men get married ... they don't change their names, women do. I was married when very young, divorced. I had to get certified copies of both marriage license and divorce paper to show how my name had changed through time for me to become Bates. They had to see how I came to be the name I am today. It created such stress ... I'm sure many people are going through such, especially women. This is our 4th time going to the DMV to get this done, out of the way. Yesterday we had appointments once again ... we got there to find out the computers were down. Gracious. This evening I keep taking sighs of relief to know it's finally done. October 2020 is the deadline. If one has to fly or go on a military base, or in a federal courthouse ... most of us do one or the other if not all ... at one time or other ... you will have to have the Real ID. I hear people saying they won't need to get it ... well, I'm saying Skip and I have it and don't have to worry about getting it as we never know if we will fly, go on a military base or in a courthouse. Better safe than sorry. Oh ... it's good to prepare ahead of time, have appointments. Why? Because like us ... I thought the first time I had all the documents needed ... I didn't. I had to go to 3 counties to get certified copies of what I needed on mine only to have to reschedule again. Each person, especially the woman ... has to have different documents. The documents needed in my case was a certified birth certificate, certified divorce and certified marriage license of marriage when young ... and my certified marriage license now ... my social security card, my driver's license ... 2 pieces of mail with my current address on it. Skip only had to have his certified birth certificate, social security card, 2 pieces of mail with his current address, and his driver's license. Men don't change their names making it easier. This is my opinion only. I wanted to share what I went through hoping it would make it easier for other women when they are preparing to get their Real ID. For some it's much more time consuming, aggravating if you don't have all you need when you go the first time ... you will sure have to come back at a later time. I hope you won't go through what I had to.