Piglets set free and our trip is in jeopardy

The piglets have created a creep of their own under a door and into a lovely sheltered pen, their favourite game is to lie right down and roll with their legs tucked in under the door, scamper, then reappear under the door rolling over and over.

You need to go outside, I said. So with a fair amount of apprehension I opened the gate to their outside pen. 

They flew through the grass, ducking and diving  and rolling while their mother ripped off the tops of the plant and ate them as fast as she could. After watching them for a while I went back inside idly, to find my passport and get the travel documents side of my trip to Canada in order  – it was Three O’Clock yesterday afternoon. I booked the seat way back in February.

My passport is expired. I kept reading the expiration date again and again as though somehow the numbers would change with scrutiny but no it is two months out of date. I dropped the ball.  I cannot believe I made such a massive error. With two days to go before I am to fly out.  What ifs don’t help. If onlys don’t help. Panic calling the New Zealand embassies and Passport offices in Washington, Chicago and New Zealand helped a little.

The closest office that can issue a New Zealand passport is in London. New Zealand emailed me the forms for an urgent passport renewal and I have filled them out. I found a referee, and last night I drove the two hour round trip to have the most awful passport pictures in the history of awful passport pictures taken.  This morning I shall drive the whole package to the nearest Fed Ex office and hope against hope that there is a way they can overnight them to London.  Then I shall call the London office and ask them what their turnaround is. An urgent passport promises, with a major price tag attached, a three day turnaround.  I need One. A One Day turnaround.

The best case scenario is I might be able to leave for Calgary on Friday night just making the wedding. At the worst Monday night. Of course there is Fourth of July on Thursday when the whole USA (including the couriers) shuts down which is not useful. So there is a very real chance that I will miss my eldest son’s wedding.  How stupid could a mother be. Of course just to stir the soup there is only one direct flight to Calgary from Chicago and it is in the evening!  My darling travel agent is already on the hunt but until I know that passport is on its way back to me we really cannot book anything.

Good morning. I often search an incident like this for the meaning. Why did this happen I wonder? So far I cannot see the hidden meaning.  How could I have been so foolish, I have been travelling for decades, I do know better. Another lesson in management? A reminder to stand still and look around, saying what have I forgotton? Stop running so fast? More haste less speed? Make better lists? Eat more brain food?  I don’t know.  I could just weep.

At least this dreadful error does not result in the death of an animal. This is good.

Now you all have a lovely day. Once this package is the hands of the courier, (Their office does not open until 9am)  the result is in the lap of the gods. Let’s hope it is a sharp uncomfortable bony lap so the process moves along swiftly.

Your truly brain challenged friend, celi