Tempting Fate by attempting too much in one day...

Flush from victory, Husband and I decided to act contrary to all advice and attempt to achieve more than one thing in a 24 hour period! Giddy and reckless, we drove to Centro and braved the Registro Civil. They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Like many sayings this one is balanced by the folk wisdom that the more times you try to lose weight, quit smoking or build a successful business the more likely you are to succeed because you learn something with each failure! We hoped that the second axiom was in play for us.

We entered the RC building, noting many people waiting at the reception desk. Husband confidently said "I know where to go. Follow me!" Like hounds after a scent, I hurried behind Husband across the once elegant courtyard straight to a desk manned by two young men. The younger of the two glanced at Husband asking "CURP?" while putting out his hand. Nodding,Husband handed over his FM3. I watched anxiously as he reviewed the document, glancing back and forth at the previously offending pages. I was eager to explain, almost breaking my own rule about never spontaneously offering information. Husband placed a steadying hand on my shoulder and whispered "just wait." El joven turned to his companion, who gave him some inaudible advice. Timidly, he entered the number that Immigration in México City had added to Husband's visa. We saw his shoulders drop, a sign of released tension. He handed Husband his brand new CURP!
Now, the moment of truth, should we take this victory and celebrate or dare we attempt another go? Spin the wheel again or take the prize and go home a sure winner?

What the heck! We drove to the INAPAM building. This was indeed a lucky morning, we headed for a side street rather than waste time trying to park nearby and quickly encountered a parking space in the shade just half a block away! We walked up to the building where the INAPAM is housed, only to find the hallway deserted and chairs stacked against the walls. Where had they gone? A no nonsense official saw us and asked what we were looking for. We had entered the wrong hallway! Our goal was next door. There seated at a card table processing applications was a thin young man with a lap top and a round faced smiling youth with a stack of forms. The cheery lad recognized us saying something like "it took you quite awhile to come back." I explained about the "falta de información" and then I said that the Great Flu Scare of '09 had slowed down the process. The youth nodded sagely quipping "Estabas abajo la influencia"*. He rapidly went through the form, sometimes asking in English sometimes in Spanish but always in a good mood. We left there with Husband's brand new senior discount card.
It wasn't even noon! Amazing, we had accomplished two things, speedily and efficiently. Never mind that in reality it had taken almost a month, the first time was simply a dress rehearsal.

At the department of motor vehicles the same grumpy woman was manning the window. Husband triumphantly presented his fm3, comprobante in his name, Yucatecan driver's license and a copy of the fm3 and comprobante. He said in Spanish " I am here to renew my license". She warily glanced through his papers, gleefully telling him, "I need copies of these two pages also." Fortunately, the State has installed a copy machine for the use of the public right in the building! The cost for copies was a peso each, twice what the copy shop down the street charges but not an exorbitant tariff. This is the first time that I have seen a copy machine located in a public office. Husband took his eye exam and received his new driver's license.
Husband and I celebrated with sandwiches at Segafredo's. They were out of mushrooms so about half the sandwiches on the menu weren't available but all things considered it was an incrediable morning.
We decided to go home and nap. Things are going so well, do you think that this may be the year we are actually able to pay our fideicomiso? or is that hoping for too much?


*"Estabas abajo la influencia" does translate exactly but is a pun based on the words for influence and flu "you were under the influence"