My very first passport was when I was only a year old. I was born in Germany because my dad is military and that's where we were stationed. This passport was the first time I would ever travel to the United States. It represents the start of a new life living in the States in a now single-parent household. I don't have any memories of this time. I was too young. But I wonder what kind of thoughts I had while moving from one country to another. Did I realize the language change? Could I even recognize German? Did I miss my previous living situation? I'll never know.
My second passport was acquired for my trip to Japan after I completed five years at a Japanese immersion school. I was really such a dork at that time. I may be still, but I think I cover it up quite well. I mean, really, I'm wearing a turtle neck with Tweety Bird and smiley faces. On a serious note, this passport is essentially the end of my childhood. I may look young, but when I returned from Japan I became the adult in my household. I love my mom so much. She had a lot of things going on mentally and physically and I took up the slack. I cared for her and my little sister who is 13 years younger than I am. My older sister was and still is in adult foster care. I'm constantly being told about how sad it was that I was put in that position at such a young age, but to tell the truth: I am so grateful for it. My mom was an amazing woman and deserved to have someone there to take care of her. I am so happy that I was able to do as much as I did. Those years of caring for my little sister were wonderful. I wouldn't trade them for anything. Today I can't help but think about how much more I could have done or where I could have made mistakes. But then I remind myself that the past is the past and today is today. And I am so in love with today.
My third passport is from when I went to England with several other students from my school. It was a programmed tour. I think I was about 17 at the time. Between this passport and the last I had my entire life ripped away from me with the death of my mom. This passport represents me moving into my new life. I've mourned my loss and I've moved on into adulthood - real adulthood, not just the responsibilities. From the time this picture was taken to now I will graduate, get married, go to school, work full time, buy a house, get laid off, go to school again, sell a house - and it will all be in partnership with the most amazing man I have ever known. My life between these last two passports has been quite the experience! The beginning may have been a bit rocky, but we have learned a lot and are still learning. That's what marriage is. It's one big awesome learning experience.
And now I have my final (for now) passport. I just got this one. It's for my trip to Mexico and then to Europe that I have planned for this summer. This passport represents the future. I'm about to move into a new and very exciting phase of my life. I'm going to graduate from college, track down a career and start a family. It's amazing to think I've made it this far. From that little baby moving to America with just her mom and her sister to who I am today. I'm hoping that this current passport is good luck for my next chapter. I won't need to renew it for another 12 years so we'll see what happens! Who knows. Maybe I'll let it expire and I'll have to get a new one in 20 or 25 years when my kids are all grown up and going to college and my husband and I decide to explore Asia.
Until next time!
