I have to say, I am impressed this evening with the fine folks who handle passport renewals at the U.S. Department of State. I had been mentally prepared for my passport renewal to take up to eight weeks, so I was very surprised to receive both my old, canceled passport and my new passport today in the mail — a mere 18 days after I submitted my renewal request.

The renewal date on my passport was Feb. 14, and it was postmarked the same day. So, allowing two days of postal transit on either side of the transaction, the U.S. Department of State processed my passport renewal in exactly two weeks from day of receipt.

So, this evening, my hat’s off to Uncle Sam!