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Two checks for the Czech Republic
Two checks for the Czech Republic By Debra Solomon For my birthday this year I decided to take the day off from my paid job. I knew I’d be spending the day with Doran, my 5 month-old son. My husband, who is a teacher, invited me to accompany his 4th graders on a field trip to The Tech Museum. After thinking about it, I decided that 5 hours with 32 nine year olds wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for my birthday. I thanked him, and turned him down. Instead I decided the perfect activity would be to apply for my son’s passport. My family recently began planning a trip to our ancestral homeland, the Czech Republic, for next summer and I thought it was the right time to get a jump start on obtaining Doran’s passport. I had no idea what was involved. Since Doran was so young, I didn’t even know if he would get his own passport. Certainly I didn’t expect the process to be easy. In my mind I pictured the long lines of tired people I had often passed in the hallway at the Meridian post office. But I figured with the time available and the right attitude I could get the job done in a day and it might even be fun. I mentioned what I was going to do to a friend. She suggested I go online and check the instructions and forms. To my surprise it was possible to actually print out the forms I needed from the internet. Therefore I was able to fill them out at home and collect all the information we needed. I got Doran’s notarized birth certificate from our file, threw my checkbook in the diaper bag and headed out, hoping for the best. We needed photographs. Doran was in a happy mood, having just woken up from a nap and eaten. We arrived at the counter at Office Depot where there is a sign that clearly states, “Passport Photos.” The photographer did not inspire confidence by telling me it was only the second time he was using the camera. Three times I held up a smiling Doran to face the camera in front of the white screen. And three times the camera did not work. As an alternative, the employee recommended trying Mailboxes Etc. So I loaded the baby in the car, and drove to Mailboxes Etc. Once I carried the baby inside I found out that not ALL Mailboxes take passport photos. After meeting a friend for coffee, she suggested trying a photo lab down the street. We walked over, only to find they did not take passport photos. Driving home, I could not resist trying one last time to get the photos done. By this time, Doran had had enough. He was just barely falling asleep as I tried to rouse him for the photographer at Wolfe Camera. He was not happy about it at all. Finally, by entertaining him with a mirror I managed to get a half smile and passable photographs. By this time it was too late to go to the passport office. Doran cried all the way home. So much for a happy birthday… Two days later, I mustered up the energy to continue the process. We arrived at the passport office. There was only a short line! Our lucky day, I thought. There were only two people in front of us. I passed the time watching “Free Willie” on video in the waiting room, a new service recently implemented. What an improvement, no more lines in the hallway. Doran dozed in his carriage. All was peaceful. They called our name and we walked over to hand in our forms. After checking, the clerk confirmed I had filled out everything correctly. This seemed too good to be true. We were almost done. I could see the light at the end of the passport tunnel. I began to pay. It turns out they require the payment in two parts, one to the post office for part of the fee and one to "passport services" for the rest. To my dismay, I realized I only had one check left in my checkbook! I had cash for the remainder, but they don’t accept cash. Clearly Murphy’s Law was in effect. The clerk informed me that it would be possible to pay with a money order and she could process that for me. I was saved! But it cost 80 cents for the money order. I only had 50 cents in my change purse and searched in vain to find more cash. But I knew I had more change in the car. So I asked her to wait a moment and she agreed. At this moment, Doran began to cry again with hunger. I nursed him in the passport waiting room. Then I went out to the car, rummaged around on the floor to find 30 cents. When I returned to the office about 20 minutes later, the clerk no doubt wondered what had taken me so long. Finally, I paid and got my receipt. When I approached the process of applying for Doran’s passport I hardly imagined that it would actually take three days to complete. Or that it would require visiting a website, going to four photo shops, watching “Free Willie,” writing a check, buying a money order and searching for change on my hands and knees on the floor of my car. However, like most activities undertaken with a small child, with a sense of humor, all things are possible. The passport should arrive in six weeks. The Czech Republic awaits! About the author: Debra Solomon has lived in California for 9 years, but originally hails from New Jersey. Before becoming a mom Debra traveled the world teaching English as a Second Language and went salsa dancing three times a week. Now she spends her time nurturing husband David and son Doran (7 months). She also works part-time as a grant writer at the Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County and runs a monthly book club. While making homemade baby food, Debra dreams of one day being an accomplished actress and poet. Debra’s email is daviddebra@earthlink.net © 2000 Siliconmom
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