My mom called from Modesto today with some important news: my passport had arrived.

Yes, the US Postal Service website did say that it had been delivered weeks ago. And yes, it’s true that I’ve already left the country. But now I can rejoice, because for the first time in my life, I have three passports. One in my pocket. One at my parents’ home. And one more – the original that had expired.

Nevermind that the USPS had nothing to say when I first told them that my passport hadn’t been delivered. Nevermind that I had spent hours at the U.S. Passport Office in San Francisco, requesting another passport to replace the one I supposedly already received.

Though my passports can’t speak, I know their sad tales. Passport #3, the one currently residing in Modesto, spent weeks stuck between a JC Penney catalog and a Mervyn’s lingerie ad. But for the grace of God, no one would have known that little P3 was trapped amongst pictures of Hanes underwear.

Somehow, it escaped to freedom.