Dreadful errands that can be fun, after all

I used to hate going to the DMV.

The DMV made me think of sweet things that melted and stuck to the

bottom of my shoe. I associated being there with feeling hot and

annoyed. I pictured, when I thought of the place, stained counters

and ugly floors and intimidating white lighting like the kind you’d

find in a customs line at an international airport.

The post office made me feel similarly icky, like I’d been chewing

bubble gum for hours.

Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s really the place.

But recently I found both a post office and a DMV in Costa Mesa

that don’t stress me out. The point of this column is to share with

you where they are.

The post office is on Adams Avenue, near Harbor Boulevard.

One man there has a crisp British accent that makes the experience

of handing him my package totally refreshing. He says “good day” when

he’s done and waits with his hands clasped behind his back for the

next sender to approach his counter.

Another man wears little spectacles and looks philosophical.

The sole lady there is very pretty and maybe the most efficient

person I’ve ever met.

They’re all friendly and chatty, but only about relevant things.

They never hold up the line with small talk.

A couple of months ago, I was sending my friend Cindy a present.

It was around graduation time so the man with the British accent

asked if Cindy was graduating. I said no, that it was her birthday.

He whipped out two sheets of Happy Birthday stamps and wall-papered

my large box with more than a dozen little stickers that screamed

celebration.

That’s what I mean by relevant.

The DMV is on 17th Street. It’s air-conditioned and cleanly

decorated and overhanging monitors pop up numbers to tell number

holders where to go. Everything happens really fast.

The counters aren’t stained, the floors aren’t sticky. and the

lighting isn’t white. The best part is, no one there seems interested

in getting to know me.

Their goal, it seems, is to get rid of me as fast as possible.

Which gets me on my way.

Which makes me happy.

Now, if only I could find a nice gas station.

* YOUNG CHANG is the features and arts and entertainment writer.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4268 or by e-mail at

[email protected].