Well, the day finally came for me to actually be a first-hand witness of why knowing and understanding English is so vitally important when one gets a driver's license.

My Florida license expires next month and I will be on tour so renewing it in Florida will be impossible. So I decided to finally get a Tennessee license although I still claim Florida as my legal domicile.

I gathered my official documents as required by the state of Tennessee for anyone getting a TN license for the first time. It was a busy day at the DMV (when isn't it a busy day) but after furnishing my official documents proving my citizenship, my valid FL license, my TN residency, a valid SS card and other documents, I was given a "deli-ticket" styled number to be called up.

As friendly as I am, I befriended the DMV clerk. When my number was called and I began talking about the challenging times that are hard for government workers and we began to chat about the government doling out money for this and for that. The state employee agreed that too much tax dollars are being "given" away willy-nilly.

To my surprise and almost within minutes of my discussion with the DMV clerk, another clerk looked at me and asked if I spoke Spanish. Is it that obvious?

Well, I replied, that yes I do.

She then asked if I could help translate for a male who was at her window to get a driver's license.

I thought, Wow! Here it is, English in action and after so many months of writing about it.

I reiterated that I spoke Spanish, but that I wasn't able to provide translation assistance for someone getting a driver's license who will then be behind the wheel of a couple ton vehicle and if they cannot understand English to get the license, then I would not be a party to them getting the license without understanding English and God forbid cause an injury or death on the roads. I have a 14 year old daughter and cannot fathom or accept anything happening to her at the hands of someone who misunderstood a road sign because they weren't proficient in English.

I then approached the Spanish-speaking male and in Spanish asked him why he didn't understand English well enough to the point that he needed a translator. He replied, "You do speak Spanish." "I have been here for 6 years but my English is not that good." He then said, "Why do I need to learn English when look the paperwork right there on the counter is in Spanish." Please translate for me so I can get my license."

With great pride and remembering my own parents working hard to earn a living but also to learn English, I said, "I am sorry, but you appear to be smart, witty and to me capable of learning English." "Learn the language of our country, the country whose soil you walk and whose roads you want to drive on."

The DMV workers stood in amazement and actually smiled at me as almost in agreement.

In my opinion, they then handed me my freshly printed driver's license with a wide smile on their faces and it wasn't because I am photogenic.

Today was a good day for America!