Slow Down...

So in an effort to make it to the post office before they closed, I hopped in the van and took off towards town. It's just a few miles, 8 to be exact, and I had plenty of time to make it if I hurried. Plus, I had to run and pick up Renee and Garrett for church tonight and then make it back home to get the kids. And even though I'd procrastinated a little bit on leaving for the post office, it wasn't a problem.

Until I crossed the hill on Hwy 107.

Why? Why did I forget that the GSP loves to hang out on the shoulder of the road just beyond the hill, waiting for poor, procrastinating, speeding folk like me? I mean, I was just trying to get my only sister's birthday card in the mail. I was just trying to pick up kids for Weds night church services. Sheesh.

As the officer's car whipped around and turned on the lights, I knew a few things for certain: that I was NOT going to get that card out in time, that I was NOT going to speed on this highway again, and that I WAS furious with myself for waiting until the last possible minute to head out.

Praying that it was an officer friend of ours, I was sorely disappointed when I called Tommy and found out that Dale was with him at the golf course and not driving the GSP car parked behind me with the lights flashing. As I waited for the officer to get to my window, I searched for the insurance card. Where the heck was it? Sure, he could run my tag but I didn't want to be there ANY longer than possible. As I searched through the glove box again, I heard a voice ask, "So where were you going in such a hurry?".

"Well, I was trying to get to the post office before they closed. I needed to mail my sister's birthday card." And then held up the card as if some sort of proof or validation was required.

"I clocked you at 70 mph; the speed limit is 55 mph." I know this; I was trying to get there quickly!!

He walked away, after getting my lame excuse of where my insurance card is and my license, and started scribbling away on his yellow pad of pain to my wallet. I was tempted to call Tommy back and have Dale call this guy to plead me out of this situation. But then I didn't want the ragging I'd get from him about speeding in a known area of speed traps so I sucked it up and decided to handle it myself. I'll just name-drop. :)

As Officer GSP made his way back to the window, he starts to ask me some questions that took me by surprise and totally made me forget about what I wanted to say.

"Your tag says Xxx county but your license is from Kennesaw. Which one is correct?" Thinking about how this could come back to hurt me, I tell the truth and admit my license is wrong.

"How long have you lived here?" Hmmm. This one's tricky. I don't want to incriminate myself but I also want this over and done with. I kept thinking, name-drop, name-drop; crap, what was our friend's name? I snap out of it and tell him the truth: it's been about a year.

"Did you know you only have 60 days to change your address on your license?" Uh, no! I knew I should have changed it but just never got around to it. Should I admit that? Eh, I'll just admit that I didn't know I had a time limit.

In the end, he ticketed me for not changing the address on my license and gave me a warning on the speeding. I was very excited about this until I found out the fine for my ticket was $142.00!!! I was furious! How can failure to update your address turn into $142? Uh, the penalties of procrastination never end.

So, since I'm really going to try and slow down in this crazy world, planning ahead in a better, more organized manner is what I need to focus on. I've had this card for Beth for a couple of weeks; why in the world did I wait until her birthday to send it? *sigh* Live and learn....and sometimes pay.