Today started off as one of a typical day. Headed out for my morning walk with Rose. (although we started a little later than normal - but was still back home by 8:30ish. I had great intentions after that. Hit the shower and sat down on the bed to get dressed. I don't think I actually dozed but I was started awake by the sound of someone entering the house at 9:30. Turns out Patrick didn't have to work today, and was just coming home from his dentist appointment. That was a blessing in disguise, because it got me motivated. I asked the son if he wanted to run some Mother/son errands today. (in the bullet, of course)
Our first stop was out by Chinook center. I needed to get a quote for a new hot tub cover and lift. That didn't take long at all. We headed all the way to the Passport office in the N.W. The son is the only one who hasn't renewed his passport yet. And this is where the adventure started. I had a good idea that there would be a bit of a wait, as we arrived at the Government office just after noon. The room was full, but certainly not packed. We got up to the counter with the prepared forms. The gentleman searched through the passport and noticed there were some marks on some of the pages. To me it looked like ink smudge from having the passport stamped and then the page being closed and leaving the ink mark on the other page. But apparently this is considered damaged. Turns out another form, in addition to the prepared form we have is needed. No problem, we can fill that out. Oh but wait. Now this "satellite" office cannot process this anymore We need to either go downtown or way out in the south, past Bannister Road. We thanked the "officer" for his help (with a fake grin on my face) and left.
After a short discussion, and realizing we really had the time, we agreed to drive all the way out to the south (nobody wants to park downtown, especially during Stampede time). For those that ever need to go to this office, turn at Bannister road. Otherwise, you are screwed. You get stuck across the train tracks, by the LRT and there is no way back without a complete turnaround on McLeod. OK, maybe there is a way back, but we could find it. So we finally figure out how to access the Government parking lot. I'm relived to see that there is not a long line up or a lot of people waiting. Again we go to the counter, and we are greeting by another gentleman. We explain what we've been told to do. And he nods and listens and then looks at Patrick's passport once more, and tells up we need a different form. Seems since Patrick was under 18 on his last passport, there is a completely different form to fill out. But, he tells us, we can fill it in there. I just need to sign as the guarantor and show them my passport as I.D. That would be awesome, but my passport is somewhere in Ottawa right now being processed. Again with a smile on my face (I think it is stuck there from the previous visit) we leave office without successfully completing our task.
There is only one way to make this day better, a trip to Peter's Drive in for milkshakes. And that is what we did. Despite our outcome, it was a great day because I got to spend it with my son (who is usually never home during the day), we were cruising with the top down in the bullet on a beautiful summer day, and the Vanilla milkshake from Peter's was the icing on the cake.
Passport renewal for Patrick will have to wait another day.
Stacey
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