Vero Beach - Well, it looks like we're finally going to make it. Despite a great deal of drama and anxiety related to getting our passports, we finally got them last Friday - only five days before we were scheduled to leave. And it required going to Miami - an unexpected inconvenience. We had applied in plenty of time (we thought). We applied in mid-March, when the passport service was stating it would take "up to ten weeks." We had thirteen weeks and felt that almost a month's leeway would be sufficient. But, we didn't count on the ineptitude and poor planning of our beloved federal bureaucracy. After many, many phone calls, and the extremely kind and calming ministrations of Rita from Congressman Dave Weldon's office, Candee's passport arrived last Thursday. Candee called me, elated to have hers and not exactly kind about me not having mine yet, only to call back within minutes to tell me that her birthdate was incorrect. Did I say ineptitude? Our only option was to appear in person in Miami to have it corrected, and again Rita came through, getting us an appointment against all odds. When we got to Miami at Friday noon we met several people who had been on line since 2 a.m. that morning! Luckily, we were able to get up to the office within minutes and have our issues resolved (mine hadn't even been processed yet!). We were told to come back in two hours to pick up our passports. Ah yes, life is sweet! When we came back, however, the line stretched two city blocks long and we despaired of ever receiving the precious passports. After no movement for an hour, the line accelerated quickly and we were headed back to Vero by 5 p.m. A miracle! Thank you Jesus-uh! We stopped on the way home for a celebratory meal at Brio's Tuscan Grill at the Gardens Mall and savoured our blessings, our good luck, and our fortunate finding of Rita.

Next dateline - Dublin!