I only wish I could have been warned sooner that there was a national passport crisis. But how ridiculous does that sound? There never are warnings for crises ... that is why they are just that - crises. Oh well, I guess I just have to admit to myself that I was swept up into some kind of a national passport crisis without being warned. There just is nothing special about me. My travel plans will have to be canceled, money lost and expectations dashed, just like so many others. Of course, in the grand scheme of things it is certainly not the end of the world. It is a disappointment and very frustrating but in comparison with poverty or world peace, what is a few hundred or even a thousand dollars between friends. And, in a way, I could see it as having been given ten additional days for writing.
And so, getting my head in gear. Changing my mind and reorganizing the plans. For the next five days I will try not to race excitedly, hopefully to the mail box seeking out the passport. If it comes, well so be it and off I will fly on Friday. And if it does not arrive, which seems to be the highest probability at this point, I will settle into different plans and expectations. I will became grateful for the extra time to read, prepare interview questions for researching teachers and anger, walk in the woods and drink healthy berry shakes.
And yet, even as I try and try to see the bright side to all of this mess, I cannot help feeling disappointed at not getting to meet Jean, Natalie, Andy and Ernesto in person. Not to mention hiking with my sister and her friends up and down dale and through fields of cows and sheep by the side of Hadrian's Wall.
The saga continues. I had a long chat at the number "they" suggest to call when time is running out(for the many numbereth time!) and a calm, neutral and extremely rational fellow said that if I don't receive my passport by the 19th I can call again and they might be able to overnight it to me ...
So let's hold fingers and thumbs and hope for the best. He told me there's no more point phoning but 48 hours before flight they can overnight it! (four months later down to the real wire)
As they (who?)say: "Keep the faith!"
Natalie, of course I will see you when you come to the States.
Danny, I appreciate your rage - actually, yesterday for the first time I actually cried with rage with the fellow on the phone!
Dear Jean ... will keep you posted, believe me!
MM ... thanks for your good wishes and encouragement!
Posted by: tamarika | June 17, 2007 at 07:04 AM
I too admire your spirit here, Tamar. Wishing for the very best outcome.
Posted by: mm | June 17, 2007 at 03:50 AM
I too admire your taking this so philosophically, Tamar. In your shoes, I'd have been writing off incendiary letters demanding that They reimburse me for my cancelled travel costs. Ironically, your experience prompted me to dig out my US passport (I have dual UK/US citizenship) to check the expiry date and.....guess what?....it expires in two days!! Since I'm taking a trip to USA in Sept (yes! Can we meet then if you're not coming here?) I'm now all keyed up to start the renewal process immediately. Thanks for the roundabout reminder. Anyway, mayvbe you'll still make it here next week??
Posted by: Natalie | June 16, 2007 at 04:01 PM
I admire your ability to put this all in perspective but I'm still outraged. There's no REASON you shouldn't be able to get a simple passport renewal within a four-month period except for an obvious shortage of manpower in the government offices that process such applications probably because of some misguided budget measures. What would it take to process your application--10 minutes at the most? I finally read up on the reason for the backlog which is the new law, as of last January, that you need a passport to enter Mexico and Canada. The irony is they've suspended that until the passport crisis is resolved and yet you're still stuck having to cancel a trip to Europe. Stupid, stupid bureaucracy.
Posted by: Danny | June 16, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Oh Tamar. I am still hoping, hoping that you will be able to come. As you say, this kind of thing is not a tragedy, but, in a life full of hard work and tight schedules, holidays, a change of place and air and meeting up with friends old and new are very precious.
Posted by: Jean | June 16, 2007 at 08:41 AM