Triple citizenship has its perks. But first it'll make you cry
I have never been so excited to receive a “sorry we missed you” card in my life.
Scrawled handwriting let me know that there were two pieces of registered post from EIRE.
In my inappropriately teal leggings and puffer jacket, I drove as fast as I could to the post office.
And there it was. The tiny auburn book that unlocks everything.
I unpacked my sparkly new Irish passport and cried the whole way home.
Now, why would I feel so emotional about a passport renewal?
I do have two other passports after all – British and Antiguan (yes I have triple citizenship; my bride price is very high).
But this passport meant so much to me for three reasons:
Driving around Europe with a British passport is foolish
Brexit has meant that every time I return to my home in Portugal, I’m questioned furiously by border control about my visa or get ugly unnecessary visa stamps all over my precious empty passport pages.
Having my Irish passport means my freedom of movement as a European is guaranteed.My passport photo is UUUUGLY
Not normal passport photo ugliness. But genuine hurts-my-soul-to-look-at ugly.
I look old and tired. I have deep set frown lines and a broken hairline. Under eye bags that could hold luggage and a general lifelessness that I can feel through the page.
This photo represents my starting point.
(And no, you can’t see it!)I’m finally free
It’s been two months since I left wedding planning for good, but it only dawned on me today.
I’m free. Truly free!
I look at my calendar and it’s the clearest it’s ever been since I started wedding planning at 19 years old.
I can be the travelling writer I’ve always wanted to be. And it starts right now.
The question is: will I actually enjoy being the person I’ve always wanted to be?
We’ll soon find out.
Ta ta for now.
Olivia x
