Passport

If you're a visitor to our wonderful city, then you're swept off your feet with the diversity of our South Florida culture which influences our food, entertainment and shopping experience. From one community to the next, you'll feel as though you're at Disney's Epcot enjoying the many countries of the world. But all that diversity that makes living in our city so fun and fabulous comes to a screeching halt the minute you walk into the Passport Office. And yesterday, it was my turn to have one of those unique Miami experiences that you won't see advertised on TV by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce...it was time for Passport Renewal.

Every local knows that it has to happen someday. You can't be surrounded everyday by the beautiful people of different cultures and not want to venture out and visit their countries, which means sooner or later you'll have to first make the trip to get the "book". Yet that's the one place I want to avoid as it ranks right up there with a prostate exam, for all that unique diverseness that makes up our great community is part of what makes this experience so frustrating.

The moment you pass through the security check point and walk into the very loud room, the journey into hell begins. You can feel the tension in the air as you want to make sure you don't miss something, because the next three hours of your life are going to be miserable. Am I in the right line? Is this the right paperwork? Am I sitting in the right section? What do you mean I shouldn't have signed yet? How much money? Why doesn't that mother quiet her little girl? Am I sure I took my blood pressure meds? Welcome to the Gateway of the Americas.

As stressful as it was though, I must say whoever is responsible for training the personnel at the Passport Agency is doing a killer job. I take my hat off to that individual. From the moment I pulled in to the parking lot I was treated with the kindest, most hospitable, service friendly people. Shocker! Man have things changed at the Agency. Someone in the top office realized that due to the diverseness of our city and the challenges that goes with properly documenting the travel books of those from the different countries that make our city unique, the last thing we need is an agency worker who doesn't want to be at their post. And the little lady at window number twelve was the one who really impressed. Her name was Carmen. She was barely 5 ft tall, tiny little frame, sweet natured, big hearted and seemed to really love her job and she made all the difference and helped me, Mary and our girls get through the experience with a little less stress.

I wish we could all be like little Carmen when it comes to dealing with our differences. Diversity is a good thing as it makes life exciting. It also could be the cause for major stress and division. Instead of letting our differences get in our way of connecting with each other, let's learn to role with the punches and celebrate our uniqueness. Lately, some in the media are using our differences against us and that shouldn't be the case, because I remember the Miami race riots in the 70's when buildings were being burned and precious lives were lost all because some people let the tension of that moment get the best of them. We don't need that in our community or society. Instead, let's take a lesson from the Passport Agency and the Carmen's of the world. Our diverseness is our uniqueness, so let's work together to create a helpful calm in the midst of stressful times.