Mailbox

Well, you wait... and you wait... and you wait... and finally, one day, the mailman shows up and drops something in the mailbox.

You run outside, thinking you knew it would come that day. You'd thought it that morning. But then again, you imagine it arriving just about every day. But alas, it's a xmas card that's been sauntering along to meet you for about three weeks. Not sauntering quite as slowly as your wife's visa paperwork, but saunter it does. You're a little disappointed, but still, it's a pleasant surprise.

So today, over breakfast, when you picture it being slipped into the mailbox, you try not to think about it, and soon it's gone from your head. Imagine your surprise, when later, you hear a horn honk outside and a messenger on a scooter beckoning for you to sign something in his outstretched hand. In his other hand, he holds a registered letter. Your heart begins to race as you reach for the pen. And then... and then... you notice it's all addressed in Thai. You sign the X____, run inside, wake your lazy wife, frantically point at the name and ask, "Does this say Rayluk?" Your wife stares at you with that "you're so magical" look as you open the package to reveal Ray's new Thai passport.

You think about how absurd it is that you were able to have your son's new passport in your hands within 4 working days of applying for it, yet it's been 6 months and you still haven't received a visa interview date for your wife.