My paper, my precious paper

Tomorrow-we get the keys and start the week of moving. I am feeling the occasional little zing of nervousness. I am not sure why but last move was more than a little stressful. I know this one will be so much easier. Zing-there it goes again. :)

Yesterday I finally got my certified copy of my permanent residence paper from 30 years ago. OOhhh, sooo cool. It only took 8 months (two months in Montreal and then 6 months in Ottawa). I have it and it's MINEEE all mine. Now, I get to start the process of getting my medical card, my permanent resident card (think "green card" but for Canada), my driver's license and reissue of my SIN (the Canadian version of SS#).

I went last night and had pictures taken for the resident card and medical card. Off I go to the local mall. There was a family in front of me, so I had to wait. Then they said it would take 30 minutes to print it. Oh, I will just come back in the morning. (I don't wanna walk around the mall aimlessly). Today I went back and they had only printed one set. Luckily, I had my receipt showing I had paid for two sets. The manager was so upset-he was really having a bad day. I told him not to worry, I would come back later for the second set. He was so relieved that I wasn't mad. Hey, it would take a lot to make me mad . . . I have my papers! Yeah!

I went to the SIN office to get my SIN out of storage-so to speak. If you don't use your SIN for 5 years, they put it in sort of limbo. After a couple of false starts. Uumm, I am sorry, but it says you have to have the original paper (instead of the precious paper I finally got from Ottawa) I will have to call and ask. Ok, this is fine. But, its too old, I can't accept it (ok, it is almost 30 years old), but I will have to call and ask. Ok, its ok. But, I can't give you your SIN cause it is in moth balls. And it costs money to get a new one. Let me call . . . ohhh, its fine. Just pay the $10 and fill out this form. Thanks, oh, that's the wrong form, fill this one out. Oh, let's fill this one out too. May I see your photo id? OH-you are smiling in your passport, you are not allowed to smile on passports. oh, yeah, its US passport, I guess you can smile. This will take 6-8 weeks. Let me get a receipt for your payment.

I smiled the whole time. I don't care. I have my paper. I was sooo patient and nice the whole time. Finally she comes back with the receipt and says, oh, I think it will only take 2 weeks.

That works. I am not going to stress over it. I am going to stress over the move.

Now, next up is the medical card. They want me to mail MY PAPER to them to get the medical card OR go directly to the main office downtown. I voted for driving my precious paper myself downtown. I am not going to let go of this thing unless I absolutely have to. So, on Thursday, I am going to venture downtown. And the freeway is still under construction with lots of ramps closed. Too bad its different ramps as I had gotten those down pretty good. Oh, well, if I cross the water, I have gone too far.

And after Thursday, its time for my permanent residence card application. Wish me luck.

And once I have my medical card, I get to apply for my driver's licence.