The Lessons I Have Learned From Losing My Passport

Last year, my family and I were supposed to go on a cruise to Mexico. Two weeks before we were to leave, the cruise was canceled due to issues with the ship. This turned out to be okay, as we had another cruise planned for March.

My oldest son is 23 and has never been on a cruise, and I had gotten him and my daughter on the original cruise as third and fourth guests sailing free. I had to add my son to the cruise for March. No big deal, right? It wasn’t, but I had pushed for him and my daughter to get passports last year because of this cruise.

About a week ago, I started looking for my passport because there are only two places I would generally keep it, and I cannot find it to save my life. I have been tearing up the house trying to find it, and in the meantime, I have done a lot of decluttering of old tax documents or bank statements that I no longer need.

I still can’t find it, and we are so close to the cruise date that I don’t think I could get an expedited replacement fast enough, so my mom suggested I get an enhanced ID. It is fine, I did that. I am still annoyed that I cannot find my passport.

Years ago, someone stole my passport, and the police pulled the thief over. When they stopped this person, the arresting officer called my mom and returned the passport. I have a slight paranoia about making sure it is secure. It is, in fact, so safe that now I have no idea where it is.