So I recently moved back to Massachusetts and the first thing I need to do is get my drivers license transferred. I drive down to the RMV office and get in line with my application. Now, MA has a program where you can have "veteran" put on your drivers license so you don't have to carry your DD214 around with you. In order to get "veteran" on your license, you bring a copy of your DD214 to the RMV with you, submit it with your DL application, they make a copy for their files and wha'la, your license now says "veteran" at the bottom. I follow all the instructions, dot my I's, cross my T's, they take my photo and hand me my DD214 back with a nice shiny new DL with the word "veteran" at the bottom. I'm happy, it was easy, quick and I'm on my way home in about 35 minutes.

About a week later, I head back to the RMV to transfer my vehicle registrations over. Of course I want the veteran plates for my vehicle so I mark that down on the application. I get up to the window and hand everything over to the lady behind the counter and she says "you want veteran plates ?" I say "yes". She says, "would you like your branch of service on the plate ?", I say "yes". She says, "do you have a copy of your DD214 with you ?", and I say "no, but I have my nice shiny new MA license that says I am a veteran"...... She says "I'm sorry, we can't accept that as verification you are a veteran, I will need to see your DD214". Pause ..... What ? So I say, "but you expect everyone else to, that is why you are doing this.... and you made a copy of my DD214 when I was here last week, look at that one". Pause ...... She says, "I'm sorry, but I have to see your original" ....

At this point I am staring blankly at the woman behind the counter with a small twitch starting at the corner of my right eye. I leave the RMV, drive home and get the original copy of my DD214 and head back to the RMV. I was successful at getting my plates this time, but that only brings me to the next problem. It costs me more as veteran in MA to register my vehicle with veteran plates than it does for a non-veteran to register their vehicle. The state of MA justifies this by saying the additional money collected goes to the Soldiers Home. Huh ? So the state makes me pay more for a plate that says I served and then justifies it by telling me I should also pay for the care of others that have served ? Is that a double FU or what ?

With all of that said, I'd still rather be here than NJ ....... But that first couple of months had me drinking heavily....