Picture This

It is passport renewal time.  Bother. 

A lot has changed in a decade. Mostly Covid, I assume. Everything can now be done on-line as opposed to sending things in via mail. And you don't need to go anywhere to get your official passport pic taken. 

So to get it renewed, I do all the work and still get to pay $300+ for the US Government to process it.

At first it was 4-6 weeks to process this request - without it being expedited, but only days after submission I got an email saying 'due to volume' it would be longer. 

Two things sprung to mind:  everyone is worried about not having one to vote (unrealistic) and others are looking to leave the country (more plausible).  We are making sure you're not a subversive (most probable). 

Since I LOVE having my picture taken, the only thing worse than doing a selfie was having 710 take them of me. It took me six tries before I figured "this will do".  I tried not to overthink it - and after the fifth, you just don't care as much as you thought. 

So it is with this picture I'm saddled with until my 70s.  Ouch - that hurt to type. 

It never occurred to me to play with lighting or filters. As my last passport photo was so good (thanks Solon Library!), I considered taking a pic of that pic to submit, but I assumed I'd get in trouble somehow. 

I assume some of the delays is this administration making sure my 'birth' gender is correct and being flagged for lord knows what. I feel suspicious of any process in which this administration has their fingers.

Hopefully in 6-8 weeks I'll have my renewal and start planning something. I also have to get on 710 to renew his as well...........or I just might leave without him. 

Song by: Blondie