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Edited on Tue Dec-18-07 09:40 AM by Steely_Dan
I wanted to share this story with you...
My wife and I are semi-retired. For the past 20 plus years, we have been breeding Yorkshire Terriers. It can be quite profitable but there is a lot more involved than most might imagine.
But on to my story.
It's now about 5:45 in the morning. I just returned from the Ontario Airport where I was to ship a puppy to a terminally ill child who lives in Denver. My wife and I felt very sorry for this family's misfortune and so we essentially sold the dog for less than half the price that we would normally get. So, our return on this particular dog was going to be very little (once you minus out the vet bills, food, care, etc.).
Anyway, a lot of preparation went into getting this puppy ready for its trip to Denver. But, my wife and I have done this many times before and we knew the routine. This particular flight left at 6:00 a.m. which required that I be at the Ontario Cargo facility at 4:30 a.m. This meant that I had to prepare everything the night before and get up at 3:00 a.m. to be sure that I arrived at the airport on time. No biggie, I've done it before.
I pack the puppy up, insuring that everything she will need has been taken care of. I jump in the car and left Crestline heading for Ontario. I arrived at 4:21...plenty of time. I cleaned up the throw-up in the carrying kennel (typical of puppies that have never been in a car before). I headed inside the small office located on outskirts of the airport. The people inside are nice. It doesn't mean that they don't have a little attitude. I guess I would too if I had to get to work at 3:00 a.m. every day. I filled out the necessary paperwork, following all of the rules they have laid out. Nearing completion, the man behind the counter asks for my driver's license. I presume it is to be sure that I am who I say I am. No problem...I give him my license. He looks at it for a moment and says: "Sorry, I can't continue to process this shipment." I ask him why. He states that my driver's license has expired.
As it turns out, my license had indeed expired...3 DAYS AGO! I was completely unaware of this...my bad. I said something to effect that you're not going to stop this shipment because my license had just expired. Yup..he said. Can't do it. If I did it, he continued, I could lose my job. I was pissed. Because of a stupid technicality, I would not be able to ship this puppy to Denver into the arms of this dying child.
Then things got interesting. I asked what the reasoning was for having a current driver's license? I mean, just what purpose does having a current driver's license have with shipping this puppy. It's the rules, he stated. Oh, I see. It's the rules. I drove all the way from Crestline to Ontario at 3:30 in the morning only to have you tell me that "it's the rules."
Then the dude behind the counter said. You know, you could get a ticket for driving with an expired license. Oh, really. I wasn't aware of that, you moron. I asked to speak to his supervisor. She was standing right next to him and had heard the whole thing. Without a word from me, she says: Can't do it, I could lose my job.
I tried to understand the reasoning behind this "rule" by asking what possible harm could be done by processing this shipment. My license obviously indicates who I am. What's the problem? With a straight face, she says...Well, you can blame those guys who flew the planes into the Twin Towers in New York. What?! So, what you are saying is that 9/11 has caused there to be put into place, such restrictions that I cannot ship this puppy. Yup, she said...and added, I could lose my job. I asked one more time, how my license (only three days expired) has anything to do with the terrorists and how is a current license going to add any more protection from another terrorist attack. They seemed confused at this point...only adding: I could lose my job.
If I heard one more person tell me that they "could lose their job," I was going to go postal.
I asked to speak to her supervisor. She stated that her supervisor would not be in until 8:00 a.m. Of course, this would mean that I would miss the flight. I'm very pissed.
I said something to the effect...Let's all be scared. That's what the government wants. And as I walked out with the puppy in tow, I turned around and said, Do you realize that every time we demonstrate fear or change our lives due to that fear, the terrorists have won? Congratulations on handing another victory to the terrorists. I walked out and drove home angrier than I have been in a long time.
Yes, you are right. I should have renewed my license. Because licenses are good for anywhere from 3-5 years, it didn't occur to me...my bad. However, I do not understand how a license that is only three days expired is like not having a license at all. Be afraid...be very afraid. Bullshit.
-Paige
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