I’m saying good-bye to an old friend today. We’ve been through so much together–traveled thousands of miles, shed tears of joy and sorrow, braved many a stern-faced border officer, and, admittedly, shared nine sighs of relief and gratitude when the smiling US counterpart said to us: “Welcome home.”
Have you guessed the identity of my traveling companion? Yes? No?
Well, it’s my US Passport! I’m saying good-bye to it today and putting it in the mail to be renewed. It’s nearly 10 years old now, and not valid for my next, and God-willing, upcoming adventure to Russia. So I’m flipping through the pages, laughing at my very ugly photo, and relishing the memories of my nine trips to Samara (and one to Canada!).
Never thought I would be sentimental over a document. LOL! But my postponement of this item on my “to-do” list tells me that I still haven’t conquered my distaste for change. “Gee , Mr. State Dept. official, can’t I keep my old passport as a souvenir? Please?”
“No, Mrs. Morris, you cannot. So if you will just hand it over to me now, I will give you a shiny new one, with a more attractive photo, and plenty of blank pages for visas for all the trips you will take in the future. Doesn’t that sound like something you would like?”
Well, actually, yes. But first, let me scan a couple of the pages so I don’t forget.
A Russian visa – Neat, huh?
And yes, the ugly photo…you’ve been dying to see it, haven’t you?
Yeah…I thought really short hair would be easier. (NOT!)
How about you, faithful friend and blog reader? Do you find it hard to say good-bye? To people? Things? Places? Or are you like me, a neurotic who can’t say good-bye to paperwork!
Wow, your hair was short!
I find it hardest to say good-bye to people. The things and paperwork only complicate and clutter my life, but people I want to always be there and make my life more beautiful.
I agree…sad when people disappear from our lives. I always try to remember that poem about friends–some are for a reason, some for a season, some for a lifetime.
I get so attached to my old documents that I would rather say I had lost them to the passport officials than hand it over to be shredded to pieces! Haha, this is exactly what I did with MY old Russian Federation passport. I will have my old friend in my drawers forever!:) So, I totally understand your sentiments!
LOL, Galina! This doesn’t surprise me about you. Too bad I’m such a “follow-the-rules” kind of gal. I never thought about just saying I lost my passport. DARN IT! Oh well…it’s gone now. Maybe there’s a lesson in it for me–learning to let go…or learning to fib better.
Hmm…saying goodbye always gets to me, although the scales may vary a bit. People, most definitely. Places…absolutely. Paper? It depends on the memories attached. My passport speaks of two adventurous, scared, twenty-year-olds on their honeymoon in England, so I’m three years behind in its renewal. On a lesser scale, my husband came across my movie ticket to the premier of the Twilight movie the other day. I’d like to say I watched him toss it out with nothing more than a twitch in my eye to match the roll in his own…however, I rescued the tiny stub and tucked it away. Disturbed, you say? Ahem…probably.
LOL ! I’ll keep your little secret…Thanks for sharing.
I always was pregnant during changing passports! First with Nina, then with Maria, next with Pinta? No,with Sophia. Big nose, large lips and semisleeping eyes!
There are some people in my heart to whom I cannot say “good-bye”. If this has happened, I always hope to say “hi” , maybe in thirty years…I’m moving to tears…
I hope it is sooner than that until we can say hello in person, with big hugs for each other.