Driving

Today the Williamson County Clerk chipped away at a little more of my identity. With Illinois license plates expiring July 31st, I was faced with the dilemma of whether I should pay my home state $78 and break the law just so that I can have my speed-limits-are-merely-guidelines driving justified by my association with the north, or be a good citizen of the state of Tennessee and try to blend in. Considering that I was stopped by "the law" the other day for cruising through my small town at 48 m.p.h. in a 30, I felt it best to comply.

But I will not go quietly. I am still clinging to my Illinois driver's license, even though you are supposed to obtain one from Tennessee if you live here more than a month. So as long as I set the cruise control at 30 when I spot the greeting "Welcome to our Town" on a faded wooden sign, I should be able to slide on through with nary a glance from the authorities.

My in-laws warned me that everyone is so nice here in the south--almost absurdly friendly. But it is good to know that government employees are the same no matter where you go, especially those associated with motor vehicles.