The End of the Story (And Hopefully the Beginning Too)

After my stomach settled back down into its proper place, I called the number for the agency and managed to speak with a person relatively quickly. Mainly I wanted to know if there was a serious consequence for not showing up to the appointment. Or even a slight consequence.

The sweet woman I spoke with may have thought I was being flippant about not showing up; I remember very distinctly laughing nervously as I asked my question. I was not, however, being flippant. I was covering up how close I was to nearly hysterical. She assured me that there was not a consequence, but I just needed to schedule a new appointment. 

As quickly as I could, I called the automated service again, and I went through the choices for the soonest appointment, which was not until two days later, Wednesday. I made my appointment for 11:30am (surely I wouldn't sleep through that one) and hoped that even though it was two days later, the chance for me to receive a passport in time was not greatly diminished. 

Since I was now wide awake and feeling as though I needed to do something Very Productive to make up for such a screw-up, I decided to go get my photo taken and run a few errands. Mike stayed home with the kids and I ran around town getting things done. First I went to CVS in order to get the picture made. 

Is getting your photo taken one of your favorite things too? I am totally, totally, totally, like, totally kidding. I don't like pictures of myself at all. I have an egghead. And really crazy baby hairs around my face, but only from just above my temples down. It's much like Albert Einstein's, just not all the way over my forehead. And brown instead of white. (Okay, I am sure you are developing quite a mental image of my hair.) At any rate, I stood in line while another guy got his picture taken for a passport too (he is going to South America, in case you care to know). When it was my turn, the gentleman taking the photos pulled down the little white screen and I stood in front of it. 

He told me he would take a few, then he pushed the button on his camera and checked the screen. He said it was a nice one. He tried to take the second picture, but nothing seemed to happen when he held the button down. He moved the camera away from his face and inspected it, then tried again. Apparently he got one that time, and said,"Just one more!" The same thing happened, and on his second try, he got the final shot. Then we went to look at them.

After he inserted the card into the machine, about ten pictures showed up. He looked surprised and said,"Oh! I only took three...I don't know why there are so many!" We laughed and said maybe the camera took a lot of pictures very quickly those times that he thought it wasn't taking any. It was a funny little moment. We picked out a picture that seemed decent (My crazy hair!), they were printed in a few seconds, and I bought them. 

Now, this isn't entirely relevant, but I also decided to get a Snapple fruit flavored tea, which is normally not my thing. But it was cherry-pomegranate flavor, made with sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup, and wasn't soda. It also had much less sugar than a Coke would have, and I was about to be running around; maybe a refreshing drink was a good idea. 

It was delicious! 

I left CVS with my pictures and my tea and a mission to Accomplish Things. I successfully returned a shirt that Christian never wore for his baseball season. (I have to tell you, I just typed shisrt, and it made me laugh. Does it make you laugh? I actually say the words that I'm typing in my head as I'm typing. Do you do that? Too much info? But please, just say it...shisrt. It's hilarious. I'm sure I'm so wrong. Help.)

What else did I get done? I also returned some undershirts that I had bought for Mike, but they were the wrong size and he wished for me not to exchange them (I got one package that was the right size, and he told me they were enough). I also returned some shorts that I had bought for Christian, which were too big. 

I ended up buying the next size down shorts for him to try, along with a package of chicken. The chicken was for dinner and had nothing to do with the shorts. Sam's...a little of everything. Or a lot of some things. Anyway, I headed home and started preparing dinner. 

I was quite productive. I made Mindee's marinade for the chicken and stuck that in the fridge. Then I made tortillas. The chicken fajitas were quite tasty!

bbbdddddppppppddddddpppppppppbbbbbbddddddddppppppppp (I'm fast-forwarding.)

Wednesday morning I woke up, not panicking, which is lovely. Michaela and I were supposed to have a hair appointment, but it had been cancelled, which ended up being a good thing. I dropped the kids off with friends and headed downtown with my folder. Right next to the building (the court house) was valet parking (yuck), which made it easy. I went through security and ended up in the line to check in for my appointment. The woman behind the counter asked me for each item: my application (check), my previous passport (check), my birth certificate (check), my driver's license (...) (...) (...) (uh, oh).

WHERE WAS MY DRIVER'S LICENSE?!

I tried hard not to appear frantic as I went through my credit (and other) cards for the third time, and finally the woman said calmly,"Take your things and sit down, and look thoroughly. Then get back in line when you find it." 

Walking away from the window with my open folder and no driver's license felt like a walk-of-shame. I found a seat as far back in the room as I could and went through my purse one more time. 

Nothing. (Well, not nothing. There were many things. But NO LICENSE.)

I thought maybe I had taken it out and put it in the folder with the passport and other documents so that everything would be together. I went through the papers carefully, bending them slightly with the hope that I would come across something hard and not flexible, LIKE MY DRIVER'S LICENSE. 

I did not come across my license, but I did come across a license likeness. I discovered the photocopy of my ID, front and back, that Mike had made for me, and then I sat straight up and realized my license must still be in the copier. At home. Not downtown in the office where I needed it to apply for a passport.

I was so sad. 

But then I was hopeful! I had the photocopy. I also had my old passport, both my social security cards, and my birth certificate. I was also willing to let them fingerprint me and/or take a blood sample. I went back to the line and pleaded my case, explaining what had happened. She made a little note to explain the situation and said,"We'll see." I took my number and sat back down.

When I finally got to go up for my application appointment, the woman behind the counter took my packet and read the note. I explained what had happened, pointed out all of the documents, and watched as she went through all of it. She asked questions as she looked over my papers, and I answered them. Is it just me, or do you also get very nervous when someone official is asking you questions? Even if I don't have anything to be afraid of, I feel very anxious, like they're gonna find out! Find out what? I don't even know, but whatever it is, it'll be bad. 

After several minutes, a few more questions, and a moment when she stepped away from her area, she said,"Your passport will be ready on Friday."

I was like,"Friday? As in, two days from now? As in, this Friday?" I didn't say that out loud, but I was shocked. And oh. so. grateful. She reminded me to get my license as soon as I could and stick it back in my purse, and told me I HAD to bring it when I picked up the passport. I paid my money and left the building. 

Y'all. I can't even tell you how happy I was. In spite of all the ways I messed up, this worked out. I also should say that while I was in there, CNN was on the TV screen and one of the stories they covered was the protesting in Instanbul. I am leaving it in the Lord's hands. 

That's the safest place for anything really. My purse, for example, cannot be counted on.

Comments

[Mindee@ourfrontdoor]

I'm glad you liked the marinade and I am REALLY glad you have your passport. Good job!

[Kara]

Oh so nerve-wracking! My heart was pounding just reading this! But I'm glad it all worked out for you and that you'll get your passport in plenty of time. I can't wait to hear about your trip!