Passport Paranoia

On the way to airport – five minutes after leaving the house

My mom is nervously laughing but enjoying herself. Suddenly, fear strikes her there's terror in her eyes. She grips my arm.

MOM: Do you have your passport? ME: Jesus mom, yes! MOM: I have mine.

Her look of fear indicates otherwise. She opens her money belt and starts examining it for her passport. Relief spreads across her face.

MOM: Oh thank God. It’s in my pouch.

I give her a look – she knows it well. It’s the look that indicates that I foresee a repeat of this conversation in the very near future.

ME: Ok, that's good mom.

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On the way to airport – 20 minutes after leaving the house

Once again, my mom appears worried. She's waiting for my recognition before she voices her concern again. This time she takes a different approach.

MOM: Where is your passport? ME: [Aggravated] Mom, it's in my money belt. For Pete's sake, I have it!

She seems relieved for about a nanosecond. Then, abruptly replies.

MOM: Where is your money pouch? ME: It’s in my bag. MOM: Where’s your bag? ME: In the back. MOM: It’s supposed to be on your waist. ME: Okay. [Hard stop on that last period] MOM: You know it should really be on your waist. ME: Okay, well I’m driving now so it’s staying in the back for the time being.

Her anxiety subsides for the moment, but I can tell she's not happy about the fact that she has not visibly seen the passport. She doesn't seem settled but senses that she should probably stop this line of questioning - at least for a bit.

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On the way to the airport – One hour after leaving the house

There is the sound of a zipper followed by the frantic shuffling of paper in a pouch.

MOM: [Relieved] I still have it. ME: Thank God for that.

13 days, 22 hours, 55 minutes of traveling left…just wait 'til we actually leave the country.

Finally on the plane to Portugal - passports and all!