Currently I am the proud possessor of no NYS driver's license. The fault is partially mine. I expected New York State to notify me that my license was expiring. That is no longer the case. It was up to me to realize that and take steps to renew.

One day in August I took a look at my license and, holy smoke, it had expired the end of July.

I turned loose my experts on how to get back on a legal footing with the DMV. Anne Marie called to find out what paper work was involved.

Meanwhile I called the Orange County DMV in Middletown and given an appointment on November 2 at 11:45 a.m. With my hot little hands full of paperwork I showed up at the Orange County DMV at the correct time.

After taking my temperature the man in charge asked for my confirmation letter. I didn't even know what he was referring to. It turned out I wasn't even on the list for November 2. I was shown out the door.

My next appointment with the Orange County DMV was November 12. A later notification moved the date to December 22 at 2:15 p.m.

Calls to the Orange County DMV revealed that I was still slated for an appointment on November 12. I was pleased with the news.

I do not understand the workings of many governmental departments but luckily, I do not have to.

We were off on the paper trail again. Tess McBeath, Town Clerk for the Town of Delaware, was extremely helpful with legal papers.

Meanwhile an article in the Middletown Record stated that several workers at the Orange County DMV office had tested positive for the corona virus.

Despite the news I received a final briefing. I was to show up at 10:40 a.m. Anne Marie picked me up early and we made our way to the Orange County DMV office. Good news - the lights were on in the building.

I brought along all my paperwork, my mask and a black pen. I assumed that meant a pen with black ink so I had one with me.

Close to the 10:40 time Anne Marie and I walked over to the office. A paper tacked outside the Orange County DMV door reported that the office was closed and asked that people with appointments leave their name and telephone number.

While we stood there the door opened and the director, I presume, came out to notify us again that the office was closed, due to the virus.

The director took down my name and telephone number. We walked away stunned.

The whole process would be funny if it wasn't a comedy of errors. Whose error? Mine? Theirs? Only the Shadow knows.

P.S. This morning, Friday, the 13th, the Middletown Record had a story about the Orange County DMV. The director stated that everyone who had a Thursday appointment had been offered the option to go to the Newburgh office - a blatant lie. Is anyone in charge there?