Passport picture

It was 2001 when my father drove me to the Post Office to get my brand new American passport. I had never had the blue one before, for I had been using the Mexican up until then, but the chance came up and I grabbed it.

At the time I was in love, though not necessarily happy, and a whole world was opening up in front of me. As we drove through the streets of Park Ridge, IL, we passed a car that looked like the one my boyfriend drove at the time and I remember making a comment about it. He didn't care about the bit of useless information. Why would he? It was so stupid.

I had the fresh pictures in my hand. At the time I was wearing a chocolate colored fitted T-shirt that I'd bought from Benetton that summer. My hair was pulled back in a ponytail and my freckled face stood still as the guy took my picture.
As I sat on the copilot seat I stared at the pictures I was holding in my hand. I kept thinking the passport was going to last me 10 years. 10 YEARS. That meant that it would expire in 2011. What would I be doing then? Will I end up marrying THIS guy? Impossible. I'm just starting college. Will I find a job? Will I be married in 2011? Will I still be in Mexico? I wondered and I wondered hard. I went back to the "married" part. "I better be married by the time I'm 29”, "Who could HE be?" and "What is he doing right now?"

That same passport is about to expire in exactly two months. I already requested a renewal and had new pictures taken. I have to say, they were not bad at all. Before I sent the old passport to be part of the government-documents graveyard I placed the pictures side by side. My face has changed a bit; I don't look as fresh and I've probably put on a few pounds.
It's hard to believe I still remember that afternoon as my mind raced in a million directions...

Oh dear young me, so many things will happen in 10 years. Yes, you will get married and no, this isn't the guy. Dad is still around but mom isn't. Well, she is but she isn't. You will soon be an aunt and you live in NYC. You are writing in English and Spanish. Most of your friends then are still your friends today but you will meet many more. You will have visited most of the countries in Europe, Iceland, South Africa and Costa Rica. Things will get really sour but then it will all be worth it. Enjoy the ride and give your old man a hug, he's going to need it.