Theresa O'Connor shared a memory. (Facebook)

I'm heading to Japan in a few days for work. In anticipation of this trip, I put in to have the name and gender marker on my passport updated a couple of months ago.
On Thursday, 8 days before the trip, my application was denied. Due to the nature of the denial, I couldn't be assured I'd even get my *old* passport back in time for my Japan trip, unless I went to the passport agency in person.
The catch was, my application was processed at the passport agency in Washington, DC.
So I hopped on a redeye and walked through the Washington Passport Agency doors right as they opened Friday morning. After several hours, I walked out with a new passport, with my updated name and gender marker.
Over the course of 30 hours I visited four airports, flew on four planes of two airlines, and took two trains. I was on the ground in DC for 14 hours.

Three things:

1. It is nice to have legal documents with the correct name and gender marker.
2. If you can avoid it, never take a day trip to the East Coast from the West Coast. Spend at least one night there.
3. I'm heading back to Japan in a couple of weeks, on this same passport.