Friday, April 28, 2006
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It's official! We've received our official "CITIZENSHIP INVITATIONS":

"APPLICATION FOR BRITISH CITIZENSHIP BY
Dunce

I am pleased to tell you that this application for British citizenship has been approved. To complete the process of becoming a British citizen, you will need to attend a citizenship ceremony to receive your certificate. In the ceremony you will take an Oath or Affirmation of allegiance to the Crown and a Pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom. This is a formal promise to Her Majesty the Queen and the United Kingdom."


The choice between Oath or Affirmation depends upon whether Almighty God is mentioned or not. We'll do the ceremony sometime in the next three months (to be scheduled quite soon). It only took one month for our citizenship to be approved (from the day we submitted our documents: 20th of March); we were shocked it happened this quickly as the official website gave an expected waiting time of four months. We haven't even thought about planning the party. I guess our applications were very straightforward.

The date on the official letter was the 20th of April (Adolf Hitler's birthday, the date of the Columbine school shooting, and also a date revered by numerous American cannabis users for its resemblance to the not-at-all-secret number 420). In a not very modern twist, both citizenship invitations arrived in a single envelope addressed only to me. I like to think this was only because my name was on the payment slip, rather than Mrs. Dunce being considered chattel.

Friday, April 28, 2006 5:38:39 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I'd like to think that the British, unlike their American cousins, are efficient in their bureaucracy. That's why they sent one envelope (saving envelope and postage costs on the second) and one address (saving time, ink, and wear and tear).
Friday, April 28, 2006 5:46:03 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Jolly good, my old man. Pip pip, as they say. Cheers to the missus as well.
Friday, April 28, 2006 11:58:42 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Congratulations, I think. Love, B. M.
Big Mama
Saturday, April 29, 2006 1:00:56 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
my only concern is that when your new country decides it's had enough and declares war on your native land, for which side will you take up arms? (Fortunately, they don't draft the blind and aged in either country until they're fairly desperate.)
Oh, and another thing, after you affirm/swear allegiance to the Queen, I hope she doesn't make you do anything ridiculous or very uncomfortable for her as part of your service, like sing to her while she eats.
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