Passport Application

Rehoboth Beach Post Office this morning, this must be the place!

This morning I applied for my first ever passport at the Rehoboth Beach post office.

As you may (or may not) know I'm planning a trip to Toronto Canada

Pat's "hoose" in Toronto, Canada

late this summer to hookup with my friend Pat and meet Dr. Spo and Someone who will be in Toronto at the same time.  Sort of like a mini Bloggerpalooza.

I've been experiencing a fair amount of frustration in getting my U.S. Passport.  First thing I needed was my birth certificate.  I only have one copy which I didn't want to part with so way back March I wrote to the Pennsylvania Department of Records to get more copies (two) of my birth certificate.  Of course that didn't go well which was not unexpected because I assume the powers that be in Pennsylvania are more concerned with suppressing the vote and filing delaying tactics against same sex marriage.  My first applicate was returned because they didn't like the copy of my driver's license.  I sent them a new copy, in color. That was month ago.  They cashed my $20 check two weeks ago but I'm still waiting. 

Dr. Spo told me that Someone

Dr. Spo and Someone - International travelers soon to visit Toronto in August

had to wait about three months before they got their passports.  Time was a running out so I took the bull (shit) by the horns this morning and took my original copy of birth certificate to the Rehoboth Beach post office this morning.

I got there at 8:45 am.  They weren't open (of course).  So I got in line behind this young man in semi-Army fatigues.  Me being me I attempted to start a conversation while we waited for the Post Office to open.  I asked him if he was an Iraqi veteran.  He said he was.  I thanked him for his service.  I then began to talk to him about the VA and other issue related to both of our experiences with the Army but he didn't want to talk.  Okay, I'm fine with that.  Probably thought I was hitting on him.  This is Rehoboth Beach after all, lot's of Old Gays hitting on young guys.  Not me though, I like my own age group but that's another whole subject for a different blog posting.

Finally at 9:02 a.m (and not a minute before) the window opens.  By now the line waiting has eight chatty people in it.  The Iraqi war vet is first.  He doesn't take too long to do his business.  He doesn't say "goodbye" to me.  I didn't expect him to.  Then I'm next.

I flop my plastic folder full of information proving I am who I am (birth certificate, Army DD-214, five envelopes with my mailing address, original Social Security card and even the "birth certificate" with my baby footprints).  I tell her that I'm applying for my passport.  Immediately she takes out a multiple form and tells me what to fill out and "don't go past that line!"  Thankfully she knew what I was talking about, I didn't have to explain myself or worse, I wasn't told that I was at the wrong place (which I half expected).  To the contrary, she was very efficient.  

She told me to go through the "Postal" door.  She told me to stand agains the wall, take off my glasses and SMILE!  Yes Virginia, unlike our driver's license, we get to smile on our Passport photo.  

Smile, you're on Passport Photo!

So I mustered up, on this short notice, my best endearing smile.  Whatcha think folks?  I like it.  At least I don't look like a stalker criminal like my driver's license photo.  Sure, I got beady eyes but the smile….man oh man you can't beat my smile.  Distracts from my turkey neck.

Next up, fill out the forms.  I take the forms and and find spot out of the way of the other postal customers and fill out the multiple forms, printed.  Mother, father, birth dates, next of kin, am I married or not (I AM! Which I gladly fill out as my "spouse" William Daniel Kelly).

I take the completed forms back to the nice postal employee lady.  She takes one look and says "These really should be filled out in BLACK pen."  Uh oh.  I filled them out with my BLUE ball point.  

Okay Ron, fill out the forms again.  A snag not unexpected, I'm just surprised there weren't more snags.

I fill out the forms again and submit them to the nice postal employee lady.  Then she asks me for my check.  I DON'T HAVE A CHECK.  Uh oh, another snag.  She asks me if I have a debit card.  Uh……no.  I try both of my credit cards, neither one works as a debit card.  She asks if I have cash.  Well I do but I don't know if I have $111.25 on my person.  I pull out my wad of bills in my back pocket, which I rarely use since I always use my Discover credit card, and viola!  I have the cash.  

JUST have it with exactly a five dollar bill to spare.  She asks if I have a quarter.  Nope, I don't carry change.  She loans me a quarter and says when I go out to my car I can bring it back to her.  Of course I promptly forgot to do that but I digress.

She rings everything up and then needs another $40 for the application itself (what WAS the $111.25 for I wonder?) and photo.  She could take my credit card for that charge.  

She also takes my original birth certificate to send in with the passport application.  She tells me it will take four to six weeks to complete and at that time there will be two plain envelopes returned to me.  One with the passport and other will have my birth certificate.  Probably by then I will have received my additional copies of birth certificate from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Records.  They should have the time now because a judge struck down the same sex marriage ban in Pennsylvania and their loser governor, Tom Corbert has decided (wisely) not to appeal.  Pennsylvania is usually a little late to the game.  Ironically I live in the First State which is Delaware.  

Know who the Second State is?  You got it, Pennsylvania.

I gathered up all my papers and left the Post Office, walking out in the bright morning sun of Rehoboth Avenue.  Bill was waiting in the car. There was a sign "15 minute parking for Post Office Customers".

 He was afraid I would get a ticket since I was gone almost an hour.  I assured him I wouldn't because I was in the Post Office on "business."  He didn't want to hear it.  Oh the joys to bring Worry Wart with me.

But anyway folks, I finally got my applicate in for my Passport.  That hurdle is done.  NEXT!

Every day is an adventure folks.