the Walnut Diary

Today I took a set of plates from my mother’s car to the Elgin license bureau to turn in for a refund of the interval between March and July. The nice lady asked for my driver’s license, health card, and power of attorney form. Then she asked for $140 for the transfer. I asked about the rebate from the license plate.

“That plate is expired. There is nothing remaining of its license fee. You should check the permits on your other vehicles. Many people have forgotten to renew their plates this year because we did not mail out reminders because of Covid-19.”

I went home to check, then returned to renew the plates on three family vehicles. $360. Feeling rather lucky to have had my scofflaw behaviour discovered by such a gentle and understanding agent, I forked over the money.

The health card? It had expired on my birthday, along with my driver’s license. New ones are in the works.

Bet’s cards are O.K. until August of this year.