Because the camera at our local post office has been out of order for years, we stopped by a nearby CVS drug store to complete the photo step of the passport renewal process. Â It was then that I realized what a difference 13 years makes in technology.
Last time I got my passport picture taken it was 1997.  My husband  and I had been married for 6 years and we were really excited to be taking a trip to London.  I had never traveled out of the US and was in need of my first passport.
We went to a local photography studio to get the necessary pictures.
Before digital photography.
I distinctly remember that they were $20 and once taken they ‘magically’ appeared in 20 minutes…20 minutes was almost instant in 1997.
So, I posed in front of white background wearing my favorite plaid shirt buttoned up to the very top button (I can promise you that I was wearing it with my favorite pleated jeans and faux-crocodile ankle boots because I was hawt like that).
1, 2, 3….
*flash*
I paid the $20 during the wait for the final product.
Meanwhile we basked in the bright light of 20 minute film development.
1997 was super modern.
The photographer handed me my photos in a cute little passport-like folder and I opened them up and gasped.
In horror.
I couldn’t be seen in OTHER countries in a photo like that.
I was hideous.
The problem was that it was 1997. Â A re-take was $20 and 20 more minutes.
$20 and 20 more minutes that we didn’t have.
I swallowed my pride and decided it wasn’t that big of a deal. Â We went directly to the post office and applied for the passport. Â A month later when it arrived in the mail I cringed and vowed not to open it up unless asked by a uniformed agent.
It turns out that the London trip was the only trip in which a passport was needed over the following 13 years.
And so today, the CVS employee took my picture with her hand-held digital camera and turned it around to give me a look. Â I shook my head and said, “Can you please take another one?”
Just because it was digital.
Just because I could.
Just because I didn’t want to spend the next 13 years looking like this:
It really makes me wonder if  the reason we didn’t travel in the last 13 years was embarrassment.
lol, now that is an awesome picture. My only passport photo is me in a tan t-shirt because it was taken by the military and I had to take off my uniform shirt so I wouldn’t look like I was in the military. Because the slicked back hair and 1800’s school teacher-esque bun wasn’t a dead giveaway.
I love that you had to disguise your military-ness…so covert!
So have I ever laughed this loud in public? NO!
You know how I feel about you so I can tell you that you look like Sarah Jessica Parker on drugs! Not a chance in H E double hockey sticks am I putting myself on the chopping block with my passport pic. It makes me look all shades of female mafia. I would be placed on the terrorist list, stat! Horrid. Brown people and white cinder blocked walls do not equal a good passport pic.
Looking gorgeous in old photo….Beautiful.
I feel your pain!!! My first passport was in 1965 and I had my hair all “ratted” up and was just this big old round head of hair PLUS BANGS and this itty bitty face (with TONS of eye liner, of course).
Oh man. As someone who has to travel back and forth to the States every year (Im American, but I live in the UK) I have got used to the fact that passport photos are never supposed to look good. A good passport photo is like winning the lottery–rare, but wonderful!
Just found your blog and love it! Im a new follower… 🙂
Isn’t amazing we think we are the sh*t in our 20’s only to realize we are much better looking in our 30’s? And you look FAB in your new pic!
Girl, you were HAWT!
*G* There is something to be said for modern technology. I love the “Does this work?” aspect and being able to retake. Sooo much better.
O-M-G… I just laughed my booty totally off!!!!!!! My passport photo is beautiful. I look so young that I’m sad to get another one. I know it will end up like this.
Oh. Dear. Lord. That is awesome…and you look like you & Blog Steadman just polished off a bong in the car before you took pics. I’m just sayin’.
But your new one is lovely.