My shoes were 11 years old.
I remember buying them in an outlet mall somewhere in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Black strappy heels from Nine West, a little too tight at a US size 9 (my feet are actually a 9.5-10 but you’d be surprised what you’ll do for a cute pair of shoes). I wore those shoes for just a short while in NC before boarding a plane with just enough clothes to get me by. My cute shoes were packed in a packing carton by a team of professionals who came in my house with a clipboard and exited it with a container which would be freighted to me.
I didn’t see those shoes again for 6 months, when they turned up on the doorstep of my flat in Stockholm.
I have worn those shoes off and on for 11 years. 11 years of laughter at a dinner party, of being paired with a flouncy skirt, of dipping in and out of nice occasions. I wore those shoes to Ascot the first time I went. I wore those shoes to Monaco at a posh dinner.
I wore those shoes today. Paired with a white cotton skirt with black polka dots and a black sleeveless top, to celebrate the emergence of the sun. The last time I wore that outfit I had a giant hat on as I was taken to the races at Goodwood. I am all of those people of the past and, frankly, none of them.
I wore those shoes today as I sat with 13 other people from all over – Burundi, Gambia, Thailand, The Philippines, Japan, Zimbabwe, Canada, Libya – and I took an oath.
Today I sang a song that I’ve always known as “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” in a slightly different way.
Today I attended a citizenship ceremony as presided over a Registrar that was – ironically – American.
Almost 11 years after leaving the US, today I became a dual citizen. Today I am officially both American and British.
Much like the rest of my family.
My shoes, they need to make their own case for citizenship. For now, on to the bubbly.
-S.
Congratulations!! Sounds like you’ve had a lovely day and you look so happy.
Congrats!!! I can’t help but smile looking at the photos.
Congratulations and welcome!
Congratulations, I found you – I was on the focus group with you. I love your blog
Congratulations! looks like a really happy day:)
Yay Yay Yay Yay YAY!!!!!! and WOOHOO!!!!!
Awwwww! I’m all teary now!
We bagsied a good one!
Congrats!
Yay! Congrats! I have to admit though, I’m a little sad the shoes didn’t show in any of your pictures. ;)
A long, long road for you and finally the finish line! Congratulations! I am so very happy for you! The British Kingdom is all the better having you as a citizen.
I am so happy for you, I can’t stop busting into a smile every time I see that picture!
A great pair of shoes and dual citizenship? Stellar day I say! Congrats!
I need a picture of the shoes! ;)
Congratulations! And you look happy and pretty and I looooove your skirt!
Congratulations, have an extra glass of bubbly for me!
What, no picture of the shoes?
Congratulations!
Congrats!! I’m with everyone else… show us the shoes. :-)
Congrats Shannon!! Enjoy the bubbly and keep those shoes forever!
Congrats! So happy for you! :)
Well done! It’s great to see you smiling at the finish line. As I’m still thigh deep in US/UK immigration paperwork for 3 out of 4 family members, this gives me hope :)
Good for you and congratulations. Now I want to see a picture of the shoes you bought here!
Congratulations! But now I have the Sex Pistols running through my head.
Also, the computer nazi program at my workplace denies me access to your site because it thinks it’s pornography…
Congratulations!
Congratulations! :-)
Congratulations! Your smile can light up the whole of England. :)
Congratulations – that’s great news, and a weight off your shoulders I’m sure.
Hooray! and Congratulations!
Yay! Congratulations! maybe some biscuits and tea to go with the bubbly?
They use Harrington for official documents? My mind, she does boggle.
(I play Font Spotting. It’s a side effect of doing graphic design.)
Congratulations!! xx
Congratulations! Well done!!!
The photos are great.
Laurence
Congratulations!
Congratulations! How awesome to see how it’s done! That will be me in a few years once we’ve settled. Apparently because I’ve been married to my Brit husband for more than 4 years outside of Britain, I automatically get ‘indefinitely leave to remain’ for 12 months after arrival, and then become eligible for citizenship during the following 3 months, and we’re headed to the ‘motherland’ in a year. I’ve always wondered what the ceremony/oath etc looked like so thanks for posting!
Hot damn, you look happy! Congratulations!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Woo-Hoo!!
Noooo, come back. Oops, sorry, no meant to say “Congratulations” You look oh so very happy. Shoe picture please.
Congratulations!! Your allegiance will be tested immediately…the USA plays England in the World Cup next month. :)
Congratulations!
Wonderful! Congratulations!
This North Carolina girl is pleased to see that we were represented in your citizenship ceremony! Congrats from the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Congrats Shannon! Do you have a picture of said shoes on your Flickr account?
Congratulations, Sugar Plum! You look so happy–and on a more superficial note–your arms look great, too.
I love shoes that tell a story. And hey – congrats! This calls for some blaring of the Sex Pistols.
Big electronic hug from across the pond.
Congratulations. It’s been a long time coming and I’m glad that it finally happened for you.
Congratulations, and I’m officially envious today (I want a Queen, too, but German laws don’t allow dual citizenship. Hmpf.)
Here’s to allgeiance and loyalty :-)
Congratulations! And will you really like cucumber sandwiches, scones and clotted cream, fish and chips, tea and pudding from now on?
Congratulations! And er…welcome home! :-)
Congratulations, Shannon!
Congrats!!!
Can I be really geeky and ask you how long the process took. I have permenant residency just have to do citizenship and haven’t gotten around to it and need to :)
Comment to say I’m silly and forgot my blog address wasn’t correct in the first comment!