Thursday, July 16, 2009

What about you?


My California driver license was last renewed in January 2006 and a new photo was taken of me at that time. I was sporting longer hair then, bordering on a bona-fide middle-age man mullet, and I timed the photo session to showcase my full-blossom hairstyle. Looking at it as I compose this blogflection, I recognize its tremendous ancestral value for future generations of my descendents who may have an interest in knowing more about me. I have a modest collection of prior expired driver licenses but, unfortunately, do not have the first one issued to me on my 16th birthday. That license was in a wallet that was pick pocketed from me in a seedy night club in Seoul, South Korea when I was in the U.S. Army.

Well this rambling introduction is really about whether the height, weight and photo on your current driver license reflect your current truth, or whether a "reality gap" exists. If you were requested to present your current driver license to establish your identity, would the person inspecting it believe it was yours?

I’ve already described the photo on my current license and, from a distance and wearing no eyeglasses, I’m pleased to report that over three years later I look the same. But take this with a grain of salt from a person who sees a 16-year old kid when looking in the mirror.

What about my height and weight?

My current license lists a height of 5’11” and a weight of 175 lbs. The height is correct although prior driver licenses reported me at 6’0” when I was in to stretching the truth. At this point in my life, I no longer have any self-induced pressure to round up my vertical measurements. My current weight is 175 lbs. although lately I fluctuate between that and 179 lbs.

So at this moment, there’s no reality gap between the real me and the height, weight and photo on my current driver license. What about you?

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

2 comments:

BodyBuilding said...

I’m about to begin training again. It nice to find some. Sometimes people, most certainly myself included, need to be reminded about the importance of working the legs. When I first began weight training I did exactly as you mention in your article. I concentrated on upper body and neglected my legs. Just as you state, I am paying the price now and I need to play “catch up”.

Charles Long said...

I'm actually 5'6 1/2 ". My license says 5'7". I rounded up. I also weigh 12 pounds less than when my last dl photo was taken.