PASSPORT INS-AND-OUTS

I got my first passport in 1999 just before a trip to France and Netherlands with Emily (Koster) Dorman. We had a wonderful time together on that trip and, in fact, it is the first time I ran into the notorious Sephora on the Champs Elysees.

I got married a year ago and I've dragged my feet to change my name. Not because I think Conger is in anyway a bad name. Here's my explanation. Because of my Dirty Little Secret, I grew quite attached to the name; Tonia Sarah Thompson. This was, after all, my name for nearly 20 years (let's not forget I was Baby Girl Thompson for my first 16). Whenever anyone says, "Mrs. Conger", I don't even recognize that I am, in fact, her, Mrs. Conger. Mrs. Conger is Nate's mom, right?

Well, as much as I've been torn to change or not to change, I finally was driven to change out of necessity. I'm going to Spain in a month and the ticket was purchased for Tonia Conger. My passport says, Tonia Thompson. You see the problem.

Here are the steps you need to take to change the name on your passport.
1. Fill out the forms here
2. Get your photo taken at an approved location (I went to the county clerk's office, you might venture to Kinkos)
3. Prepare to pay $67 to get your new passport in six weeks and $127 to get your new passport in two weeks
4. Get a certified copy of your marriage license (again, I went to the county clerk's office)
5. Put the forms, copy of marriage license, $, photos (you'll need 2), and old passport in an envelope and mail to:

Passport Service Lockbox
Attn: Passport Supervisor, 371971 500 Ross Street, Room 154-0670 Pittsburg, PA 15262-0001

6. Remember to include a return envelope with your address and postage paid
7. Hold your breath that your passport arrives within two weeks (I like to create a paper chain or make big Xs on my calendar to mark down the days)
8. DO NOT lament over how much older and wiser you look in your new passport photo. It won't change anything
9. If you are expediting your package, remember you'll have to pay for overnight postage to and from the Passport Office
10. Make sure you can track your package. Though it won't help it get there any earlier; you can track it and know when and where to become diliriously stressed

FOR MORE INFORMATION, go here.