The Passport

What is a Passport? Wikipedia describes it as a travel document issued by a national government that identifies the bearer as a national of the issuing state and requests that the bearer be permitted to enter and pass through other countries.

When do you need a Passport? Wikipedia states that it is usually required for international travel (except in the EU).

What is usually the first thing, besides the airline ticket, that one would put in their bag on the day they travel? Hmmmmm.... do I really need to continue looking at Wikipedia for the answers? It's a freakin' Passport!!

Clearly my brother Randy forgot all this as I took him to the airport on his return flight back to California at 5:45 am. About 5 minutes away from the airport he suddenly panicked when he realized that the passport, which he thought he had in his jacket pocket, was not there.

A phone call to Matt (who was already in the shower getting ready for work) confirmed this. Randy left his passport in the bag he took to Jerusalem - and we had to return back to the house to get it.

The silence in the car on the twenty minute drive back to the house to get the passport and additional 25 minutes back to the airport was deafening. We were both nervous that he'd miss his flight. However, he checked in for his flight with 1 hour and 15 minutes to spare and was able to get coffee and a little breakfast before boarding. I, on the other hand spent the next 50 minutes in traffic getting home. What sisterly love.