Do you have your passport yet?

I wanted to break something this afternoon, unfortunately it was me that finally broke.

Kent dropped me at the passport office Monday morning at 11. Our passports expired and we are required to keep them up to date as we have Nexus cards - that’s one of the stipulations and last time through customs the guard mentioned it. We also plan to do a bit of traveling in the next 2 months.

We filled out the forms online as they must be complete and accurate before they will print and it’s a much quicker process as there is no room FOR error. Our dentist kindly signed the forms and the pictures last night, so we were all set to apply.

The lineup outside the passport office looked long with perhaps 100 - 150 people ahead of me, but I wasn’t in a hurry - a couple of hours would go by quickly. Kent is going away tomorrow for 3 days on a business trip and he had a number of errands but I assumed he’d be back when done, to give me a break - perhaps to bring me a late lunch or a cup of coffee, to give me time to go inside to warm up, sit down - whatever. Nope he never came back - so there ya go, Heather - don’t assume - it makes an ass of u and me - GET IT IN WRITING! Even if it is your own husband.

The first hour was fine. I people watched and talked a bit to the others in line, asked questions about the line moving, what they knew about the timing, blah, blah, blah….

The second hour was okay too with the newspaper crossword, then I gave myself a mini manicure. The sun was out but the wind was bitterly cold and I developed an ear ache. Luckily I had a warm which covered to the bottom of my ears at least. Meanwhile I developed a stomach ache. Still, it was okay. The line was moving every half an hour or so and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel - I thought.

We moved right along once the lunch hour was over - everyone back at their desks working hard supposedly, so that was encouraging.

By 2 pm I was really feeling the cold as I was in the shade of the building, getting hungry, needed to pee and not very comfortable. But still we were moving right along - 10 people in the door and up the elevator every 15 minutes. Yes, I could have had someone hold my spot in line, but what if the line kept going and I missed the door……….. arrrrggggggg… I didn’t dare leave my spot. Everyone was getting annoyed, but it wasn’t raining - so that was a BIG plus.

At 3 one of the security guards came out and started handing out yellow sheets of paper to the people at the end of the line - basically saying they might not get in today - there are no guarantees and if you want to be sure to get in the door a certain day you must be in line by 6 am for office opening of 8 am and you might be out in 7 hours - if you are lucky. When he got to the area of the line I was in and handed me a yellow slip I knew it couldn’t be good.

I asked the guard about picking up my daughters passport which was ready, and he took me in the building, up the elevator into the office. Yes, there were about 80 people sitting there, waiting. There were 4 wickets open - the other 11 were closed - hmmm… must have been coffee break. I got Crystal’s passport with no problem then the guard took me back to the lineup. It felt like school - or perhaps prison, and I didn’t dare misbehave because I wanted back in that door. I did have the urge to just sneak into the lineup of people waiting to deliver their applications when his back was turned, but he and a woman guard were eagle eyed and I knew they knew what I wanted to do….

Back in line, I kept expecting Kent to show up. My phone battery was nearly dead so I didn’t want to use it unless I had to. Surely he knew I was hungry and tired of standing there… didn’t he?

We edged slowly closer to the door as they seemed to be taking people more regularly. I realized just how many people there actually must have been ahead of me - the office holds about 80 and the line snaked around where I hadn’t expected so I definitely misjudged - there were more like 300 people ahead of me.

At 3:45 my group was next and if you get in the door, up the elevator (which is operated by the security guard - with a key) you were at least guaranteed a number so you could come back next day and not have to wait outside. I was tired of shivering and moving from foot to foot and felt miserable, but hung in there. Around this time, I realised my coat was not keeping me warm and tried to zip it to the top of the neck - the zipper stuck - and stuck hard. It wouldn’t go up and it wouldn’t go down. I was surrounded by East Indian men and was not going to ask one of them for help.

The guard seemed to be hiding - he sure wasn’t coming anywhere near the crowd unless he had to at this point. By 4 o’clock we knew it wasn’t looking good as the office closes at 4:30 but couldn’t leave as our group just might get in. I shivered, complained to myself about my stomach ache, my ear ache, my tiredness, my hungryness, my full bladder…. I complain a lot.

At 4:10 - the good news - sorry, the office is too full to allow any more people in today. Ciao… get here earlier sucker, if you want a passport.

I called Kent - no answer - I used the bathroom, found the coffee shop was closed, but at least it was warm in the building. I phoned again - finally he answered - “Oh, are you done already? Do you want me to pick you up?”

At that point I must say I used the bad four letter word. I think Kent understood because he said he was on his way. At 10 to 5 I realized I was stifling inside the building with my heavy coat on with the zipper stuck and I was so angry I could barely even speak to the poor lady who came over to ask the time.

I went outside to wait for Kent. Now, I didn’t have to cope with the heat, just the cold and the creepy people getting off the skytrain and walking the street. I watched a strange girl fall down in the dirt on the other side of the street, pick herself up and scurry across the street, then back again. I worried some of the wierdos might think I was looking to make a few bucks. It is one of the worst areas of Surrey and I was not comfortable but sort of backed myself up against a wall, near the street where I could watch both sides.

Meanwhile I was thinking of retribution - if anyone dared come near me, I was going to kick the crap right out of them and make them sorry they were alive. No one was taking my purse or my jewelery. I railed against government workers, against security guards, against coat manufacturers and against Kent….. I knew I definitely was not cooking dinner - ha, now that’s retribution!!!

His ears should have been burning - but he was his usual jolly self when he (and the fellow who bought our boat) arrived at 5:10. I threw my bag and myself into the backseat with another bad word in answer to his cheery greeting and closed my eyes. Don’t I always have to sit in the backseat? What’s up with that?

Tears of exhaustion and anger rolled down my cheeks.

I don’t have bad days often enough I guess, because this one hit me really hard. It was almost like work… the reality hit - imagine if I had to go to work every day…

Luckily, when we got home, there was enough ice cold Corona in the fridge to cheer me and lots of leftovers for dinner!

The really good news of the day - I’m not still wearing my coat - Jim used brute strength to unstick the zipper.