Would you like a stamp in your passport?

Remember in the movie "While You Were Sleeping" where Jack asks Lucy where she would most want to go in the world and she whips out her passport and says "Florence!" And he makes her feel bad because she doesn't have any stamps in her passport? It got me to thinking. Now that I have to have a passport (valid for 10 years if you are over 16, 3 [or is it 5?]if you are not), I want it to be stamped. In cool colors. We are going to 3 different countries and then back into the U.S. of A., shouldn't that mean I get 4 stamps? Do I get to pick the colors?

I want the US to be in purple because that is my favorite of the colors (if I have to pick, I like most of them, and it depends on what I am doing with the color-after all, I am not a Purple Panda, but I tend to pick purple flowers for my garden) and since I am a USA-ian I want my country represented by my favorite color (if I have to pick-see above). Plus, if you put red, white and blue together you get a nice light lavender, or perhaps periwinkle my favorite of the purple shades. Purple really is the color of freedom and unity then. Maybe we should petition Congress and make that change? Probably not an idea that the new Prez will sign on, but a girl can hope for a purple passport stamp!

Mexico is really bright and colorful and I love Mexican food and I would want it's stamp to be orange. It happens to be John and Ricky's favorite color (or it was last time I asked him, or are his favorites are as whimsical as mine?) and since of all the places we are visiting, Cozumel has the cuisine I am most anxious to taste (a big criteria for fun and enjoyment is the menu at any destination), I want it to be represented by things I love-so orange for me. A pretty sunset orange or terra cotta pot orange color would look smashing in my boring blue passport. There are inspirational/patriotic sayings printed on the top of each page, I wonder if I could pick the page I want my stamp to be stamped on? Maybe on a page that says something about immigration laws or cheap labor. Or a quote about berries-what is the line from that book? "The big hungry bear can smell a red, ripe strawberry from a mile away. . ." I wonder how far Cozumel is from the fields of So. Cal?

The Grand Caymans are the native habitat for the Blue Iguana, so I think blue would be a perfect stamp for my passport. It would be awesome if it was shaped like a lizard, but I doubt they would be that carefree with their international documentation. Although a green sea turtle would be cool too, as long as I don't have to eat it. It does NOT taste like chicken! A conch (pronounced "KONK") shell would be a cool stamp, but the soft coral color wouldn't hold up against the blue of the official passport page. And a conch (I don't care how you are supposed to say it, all I can think of is in Harry Potter when the poltergeist, Peeves, grabs someones nose and shouts "Got yer conk!" as he looks at them upside down and between his legs! I think I will feign ignorance and continue to call it a "conch") shell in any other color just wouldn't hold the same mystique, so I will just keep wishing for a blue stamp. (By the way, my friend says that conch tastes like scallops, which is a food of the sea, so its not for me!)

Jamaica is a hard word to spell. They don't have snow there, but they do have winter sports, which is confusing to this simple girl. AND they don't comb their hair-which I do not get. Bob Marley I am not. I might not like what my hair is doing, what color it is (or isn't), its length or stylishness, but I do know that you are supposed to comb it everyday otherwise your Mom will, and if she does it its gonna hurt like the dickens. I learned this at a very young age. Plus, if you wash it yourself you stand a better chance of not getting shampoo in your eyes, too. And never get your bangs cut before getting your picture taken or else. . .Well, you've all seen the family photos from the 70's and 80's! So, I would think that red is a good color for my Jamaican stamp-because sometimes my hair is red, my scalp is red if I have to work out a lot of knots and junk, my eyes are red if I get soap in them, and my face is red when I think of my 80's bangs. So there you go!

By the way, John already got his passport! It didn't take very long at all-we don't know if it was luck and timing, the fact he used to have one and it had expired, his federal employment, or the extra $20 he slipped the lady behind the counter-but it's done! And in plenty of time to forget where we put it, find it, forget again and find it just in time to fly to Miami in November. It came with an extra photo, some interesting information about passports and international travel, a wallet card to record important info on in case you lose your passport but not your wallet and the suggestion that a copy of your passport remain in the states with someone not going on the trip, just in case. . .He got his done in Farmington-they have open hours as opposed to the Post Offices in Ogden or Layton where you must make an appointment (one of only 5 in a week). We were a little apprehensive of them keeping his birth certificate, but it was promptly mailed back to us and put back in the firebox-THAT'S WHERE WE PUT HIS PASSPORT! I knew I knew where it was! Thank goodness!