Last Friday my husband and I took our two younger kids to the post office to apply for their passports. We don't have a trip planned in our near future, but as our oldest son will be attending school a short distance from the Canadian border, it just makes sense to have them should we decide to head north for a visit.
As is my nature, I went on-line and completed the application forms, compiled the necessary documentation, and because they are minors without adequate identification of their own, made the required copies of both my husband's and my identification for each application.
There was quite a line for passports at the post office and we stood for a good 20 minutes, not moving, with 15 to 18 people ahead of us. A clerk came out, took a look at everyone waiting, and announced that those at the end of the line were looking at a two hour wait; however, a different post office had literally no line, so if anyone was interested in going there ...
While we were somewhat concerned at the hour (it was 1:45 pm and the processing hours were 10 to 2 pm), we were more aware of our place at the half-way mark in the line, so off we went, arriving in more than enough time to take care of our business.
Funny enough, we found ourselves second in line behind a couple we had seen at the first location, and while we waited, I began to get an understanding of what was causing such long wait times. As the clerk looked over their paperwork, I could hear her asking them to fill in numerous questions they had overlooked or ignored. Did they have identification? Well, probably - what type was needed? Copies? Nope - "Can you make them for us?" The instructions that say not to sign in advance were ignored; was this going to be a problem? Return delivery? "Gosh, do we want it sent priority mail, or regular mail - what is the difference and how long will it take?"
You get the idea.
I was really impressed with the postal clerk throughout the entire transaction. She was polite, courteous, friendly, and not once did the patient tone disappear from her voice. As I thought about how often she must encounter the same situation - the need to ask for missing information, making copies that were supposed to already be made, and answering all the questions that were addressed in the application paperwork (if people had only bothered to read for themselves), my admiration grew. She was awesome!
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