WHAT?!?!

Today I had to get my driver's license renewed...apparently they think that the picture from my 20's is no longer a valid representation of my appearance...at least, that is how I am interpreting it in my 'overly sensitive to turning 30' phase. Or, maybe they just want to test my vision since I am entering 'middle age'. Either way, I am not a fan of the process. So, I went today to get a new license. I am actually a bit relieved to do this because the last time I got my license picture taken, it was a day or two before I gave birth to one of my offspring (probably Isabel, but I really don't remember which...must be middle age officially settling into my brain) and the picture was terrible. Anyway, I take a number and am waiting in a crowded seating area with both girls. We take up a game of 'I Spy' to pass the time and the lady next to us decides she wants to play too. So, the girls warm right up to her and they start chatting. Of course, she starts by telling me about a distant relative of hers that has red hair (I get that a lot), but how her child is part Native American, so she didn't get any of that hair. Then, Isabel notices her number card has the number .08 at the top and she asks about it because our number card just has something about railroad tracks at the top. The lady, to my horror, starts going into detail about how the cops will arrest you if you drink too much when you drive and you can't drink so much that your "blood number" (yes, that is a direct quote...and yes, I did go to Pekin to get my license renewed, can't you tell? Sorry if you are from Pekin...nothing personal!!!). The woman obviously had some personal resentment towards this .08 number so I am waiting with a grimace for Isabel to say 'My daddy is a police officer'. Instead, she says very loudly with terror in her voice "But, my mom drinks while she drives all the time!!!".

Yep. That's me. The alcoholic mother who drinks and drives with her children on a regular basis. Of course, I quickly (and loudly) explained to Isabel that it is okay to drink SODA when you are driving. You just can't have 'Mommy and Daddy drinks' when you drive. I just hope she doesn't ask why...how do you explain drunk to a 6 year old?