ID

I went camping with some friends recently and had to produce a state ID for the second time in a couple of months (usually my ATM card, which has a recent enough picture of me on it, works for folks). In my driver's license (last renewed when I was 18) I have long hair pulled back in a pony tail, and I'm not wearing glasses. Showing it at airports used to cause a little stir; for the past year or so I've been accustomed to carrying my Dartmouth ID card to supplement when the security attendant quizzically compares the person standing before them (presumably an adolescent boy) with the ID picture (presumably a young woman). The last time I flew, November 1, no one gave my ID a second glance. I was a little puzzled, and then decided it must be because they don't want to broach the gender subject--maybe I'm old enough looking and sounding now that there's a clear difference between me and the ID.

But I had to chuckle to myself when I passed my ID to a Black guy at Yosemite, and he commented, "a skinhead, huh?"