It took only a couple of days for Bob to get back to me. He said the Canadian consultant said that he had to get a letter from the president of the company, stating that the consultant is in Vegas to investigate the possibilities of establishing a branch of their consulting practices in Vegas.
I was trying digest the information.
Bob said would you like to meet with that consultant?
I said, thanks, Bob but I think I got the idea.
Once I came home after talking to Bob, Lynda said you appear to be happier than looked before you went to see Bob.
I said, everything is just fine, and you don’t have to worry about anything.
She said she’s not worried about anything. She’s going out tonight for the meeting with her Sorority sisters and she was counting on me give her a ride.
I said not to worry I am at your disposal, my lady.
She said wouldn’t that be nicer if I had my own car, then you don’t have to worry about giving me a ride whenever I have a Sorority meeting?
I said all in good time, my love. However, if you feel comfortable, you can always drive our car any time you like.
She said I have no clue where they are located.
I said until you get acquainted with Henderson, perhaps you would be better off using me as your driver.
She said, I can live with that.
The information I had from Bob about the driver’s license, was good but I wasn’t sure how best to utilize it.
I started exploring the possibilities of having Adam to write a letter and sign as a president, authorizing me to investigate the possibilities of expanding our services here in Vegas. Then for some reason, I started checking things in my briefcase aimlessly and hoping to find something or anything which could help me to overcome the complicated situation I was faced with. Consequently, when I started taking everything out from my briefcase, I came across a bunch of company letterheads. I had no clue, why I had them in my briefcase. Then again, I wasn’t sure why I had my briefcase with us when we were on a holiday. Nonetheless, I was delighted that I had my briefcase with us as I believe that there’s always a reason for the things happen to us.
Thanks God that Lynda wasn’t home at that time of the day.
I grabbed another cup of coffee and started drafting a letter – TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN – from John Smith (Vice President) who explained how the Board of Directors decided to authorize Dr. Mir F. Ali, President, to explore the possibilities of establishing a branch of our company in Las Vegas based on the fact that Las Vegas:
- Was experiencing rapid financial growth, driven primarily by its booming gaming industry; and
- Surpassed 30 million visitors, and gaming revenues in Clark County exceeded $6 billion.
I drafted and re-drafted the letter to praise and highlight the financial success of Las Vegas is becoming a reasonable place to do business for the companies either to relocate to Las Vegas or open their branches in Las Vegas. Furthermore, to include what kind of services we will be providing.
On Monday morning, I spoke to my friend at the Chamber of Commerce and explain to her what I am going through to get a driver’s license.
She was very sympathetic to what I was faced with and agreed that the City of North Vegas was less crowded in comparison with Henderson. She also mentioned that:
- North Las Vegas was a city experiencing significant growth and grappling with its identity within the larger Las Vegas metropolitan area. While it was known for being the lower-class area with a reputation for high crime, the city was also undergoing an ambitious expansion program, annexing surrounding desert areas. Consequently, the projects aimed at improving the city’s image and attracting residents and investment were being initiated.
I never mentioned to her about what I was planning to do to address my legal status for getting a driver’s license in Nevada.
She also mentioned to me that if I like she will write a letter to show that I have been an active member of the chamber.
I thought that will be an excellent way of demonstrating my participation in the business community. Hence, I asked her to get the letter ready to be picked around 11:00 AM.
When I got to the DMV office in North Las Vegas, I noticed a crowd of people was already there. Obviously, they had the same idea as I did to avoid lengthy waiting for getting a driver’s license in other places like Henderson.
Nevertheless, I had no choice but to line up just to find out what was going on. When I got to the person sitting on the other side of the desk, she told me that the earliest she can book me for a test was a couple of months from now which was totally discouraging.
I said what am going to do in the meanwhile?
She said you can continue to drive with your current license and if you were stopped, you can always tell them that you were waiting for your appointment at the DMV.
She said, at the same time, to book an appointment you must produce necessary papers to demonstrate your legal status here in Nevada.
I said here are a couple of letters which describe my current status here in Nevada.
She took those two letters, read them right away and said please just wait a minute as I need to get my supervisor to see these letters before, I book an appointment for you.
I said please go ahead and I wait for you.
When she came back, a middled age gentleman came along with her, and I assumed he was her supervisor.
He said my name is Norman and I am the supervisor.
I said pleasure to meet you, sir.
He said do you have your business card with you?
I said I just incorporated a company here in Nevada called AIM (Adam Information Management) but never got around to get stationery printed yet.
He said do you have your business card from Canada?
I said, yes, and gave it to him
He looked at my degrees associated with my name of the card and said – very impressive doctor. He continued – I looked at the services you intend to provide together with an excellent letter from the Chamber of Commerce I am going to go ahead and allow you to proceed with the next step.
I said thank you, sir.
He said however, it would be nice if you consider locating your office here in the North Las Vegas.
I said to be totally honest with you, I am seriously considering finding a suitable office here in North Las Vegas mainly because rents are relatively reasonable here in North Las Vegas.
He said, we also provide other facilities or services to encourage new businesses in our city.
I said perhaps the best thing for me is to become a member of your Chamber of Commerce here in North Las Vegas.
He said that will be an excellent move. He also said the final thing I am going to say is that if you’re interested getting a driver’s license earlier than your appointment date, perhaps you should come here every day and wait to see if anybody doesn’t show up for his or her appointment. This way you can jumped the que.
I said what a wonderful idea and thanked him.
The time I was finished with the DMV, I was totally exhausted.
The time I got home, Lynda had just come back from the clubhouse and wondering where the heck I was gone.
I told her that I had a couple of meetings at the Chambers.
She said I don’t understand you.
I said why?
She said you wanted to be retired and have wonderful life in Vegas, and it took only five minutes for you to get back to thinking or doing business.
I said you were right in the first place. Maybe I wasn’t ready to be retired but what all I am trying to do is that to get Adam totally empowered to run the business indecently and at the same time I am hoping to create something here for to keep myself busy as well as generate some income to support ourselves.
She said I thought we got enough money to support ourselves.
I said we do have some money, but it will not last forever.
I asked her if she is happy here in Vegas?
She said I am happy-go-lucky, and I know that you will find whatever you are looking for to keep yourself busy and happy.
I said that’s all I wanted to know, and I am delighted that you are enjoying life.
She said, mom is coming to visit us in a couple of weeks, and she is going to be here only four weeks.
I said on that note let’s go somewhere to have supper.
The next day, I got up early and as soon I finished my routine of exercising and swimming, I had breakfast with Lynda and rushed to North Las Vegas. When I got to DMV, I noticed there were several people already lined up for something including the driver’s tests.
I went to the desk and told the girl at the desk that I am there to take place for anybody who doesn’t show up for the test.
It appeared to me as the girl at the desk was expecting me to be there which could be due to my conversation their supervisor the other day. I was told to sit on certain bench where she can see me.
There were several instructors who also siting in that area and waiting for the folks to be tested on the computers inside the building and come out for the practical tests. As soon as somebody comes out with the candidate who passed the written test, one of the instructors go with the person to do the driving test.
That routine was carried out very punctually.
It wasn’t easy for me just sit there and watch what was going on, but I didn’t have any choice, did I?
I also noticed that the driving tests were conducted by those instructors without taking any lunch breaks. I guess they wanted to get it done as soon as they can.
I managed to get a sandwich and a drink while watching the instructors taking the folks for tests and bringing the back. Some of those folks who came back with the instructors, didn’t appear to be happy and I assumed that they didn’t pass the tests.
In any case, I repeated the same practice whole week, and nobody called sick or cancelled the appointment.
On the weekend, I thought I should talk to Lynda about what I was trying to accomplish as I wasn’t sure if anybody will ever not show up for their driving tests.
I took her out on Saturday for lunch and just casually mentioned that we with Canadian driver’s license are allowed only for so many days to drive in Nevada.
She said, she didn’t know that. She added but you came from the states and should be able to drive here.
I said I had driver’s license in the state of Illinois. I said, yes, a valid driver’s license from another state is generally accepted for driving in Nevada. Nevada recognizes licenses issued by other states and countries and they are allowed to drive for certain period of time. However, if you become a permanent resident of Nevada, you will need to obtain a Nevada driver’s license within a specific period of timeframe.
She said does it mean that we are now permeant residents of Nevada.
I said of course we are. We have been living here for more than three months, and we need to get a Nevad driver’s license to continue to drive in Nevada otherwise we will be subject to legal charges.
She said how the heck the local police would know that we are Canadians and driving illegally here in Nevada.
I said perhaps the “trigger” would be the license plate of our car which says Ontario.
She said why don’t we just change the license plate.
I said, to change the license plate we need to have Nevada driver’s license.
She said what’s stopping you from getting a driver’s license here in Nevada?
I said I must have a legal status to apply and go through the written as well as practical driver’s test.
She said, are you saying that we jumped the gun to buy a property here without going through the realities?
I said I may have been a little too quick to decide but I am sure there’s a way we can resolve it.
She said do you have any idea when and how you will be able to resolve it?
I said I found a way to get around it, I am working on it, therefore, you don’t have to worry about it.
I continued – I want you to know that I am not doing anything illegal.
She said I trust you to continue whatever you think is right thing to do.
At that stage, I didn’t think it was necessary to go over and explain what I was planning to do.
On Monday and every day following that, I went to DMV in North Las Vegas and waited for somebody not to show up for his or her appointment.
In the middle of the next week, I was sitting on the same bench watching the people coming and going then I heard my name. I turned around to see a guy with a clipboard in his hands was looking for me. I thought there is God after all.
I went in the office with the guy with the clipboard, and he showed me to sit where a Personal Computer (PC) was located.
He explained to me that a computerized written driver’s test will assesses my knowledge of road rules and traffic signs through a series of multiple-choice questions presented on the screen of the computer. He also said the test is divided into two sections – one road signs and the other about general driving knowledge. Furthermore, he said there are 100 questions, and you need to score 80 percent or higher, to pass. He said you got only 60 minutes.
He tried to explain how to use the computer, I said I know how to use the computer, and he pushed the timer to start the test.
I found the test was designed carefully. While there were some misleading ways of asking some of those questions, but I thought they were reasonably simple questions to answer.
I finished all questions in less than 40 minutes, but I was told to review them just to be on a safe side.
Finally, the guy came and pushed a couple of keys on the computer to print the test with the conclusion which he didn’t let me see. He told me to wait for him outside.
It didn’t take more than 5 minutes for him to come out. He called somebody and handed me over to him for the driver’s test.
To make a long story short, I tried my best not to be cocky and went through step by step the test following the instructions and looking back at the instructor as he was a God.
When we got back what all he said to me was, wait there, and somebody will come and see you. I didn’t bother even asking whether I passed the test or not.
It didn’t take too long for somebody to call my name and when I got in, he handed me a bunch of papers and explained to me that the driver’s license will be deliver to me in a couple of weeks and in the meanwhile the papers I got were good enough for me to continue to drive in Nevada.
Once I came out from that office, I went to the other desk outside the office and ask to see the supervisor who came out immediately and said congratulations, doctor. He said you scored 97 percent. I thanked him for being so understanding. He said is there anything else he can do?
I said I need to get my license plate changed.
He said I am assuming you got the ownership papers with you.
I said, yes, sir.
I said come with me I will get somebody to take care of you.
The time I got back home in Henderson; with the Nevada license plate on the car, I felt like I was somebody.
As soon as I got in, Lynda shouted where have you been? Adam called a couple of times.
I said I will call him back. But the good news is that we got the Nevada license plate, and you don’t have to be worried about anything.
She said thanks God.
When I called Adam, he spoke to me several minutes about the project he was working on and what he was faced with.
I explained to him that I would go to Ottawa if he needed me, but it should be his decision to do whatever he feels comfortable with.
He told me that he was also having some problems with a couple of users in DND. He said they have been asking when your dad will be back?
I said to Adam, if you feel that my being there for a week or two will help him with the users as well as with the consultants who were working for him.
He said perhaps that is not a bad idea, dad.
I told him I will discuss this with his mom and get back to him.
When I got back in the living room Lynda was curious to know why Adam was calling me?
I tried to explain to her that there could be a couple of reasons and perhaps I should go there for a couple of weeks to help him.
She said if that’s going to help Adam, I don’t have any problem with that.
She also asked me if she needs to change her driver’s license.
I said she doesn’t have to worry about that as now we got the Nevada license plate and the chances of getting stopped by a cop, are not that great.
I also offered her my help to do shopping and whatever else she needs before I go away.
She liked that idea.
She told me that she feels comfortable enough to live there when I am away.
She also asked me if I will stay in our home or in a hotel in the downtown of Ottawa?
I said it doesn’t make any sense not to stay in our home.
Once we finished talking, I asked her to make a reservation to go to Ottawa as soon as possible but come back after two weeks.
