So I Went to My local Social Security Office for a replacement Social Security Card. A pleasant gray-haired lady greeted me fairly promptly and handed me some paperwork to fill out. A short time later I had my replacement Social Security Card. It was altogether easy. Then I sent my friend from Japan, who had had her wallet stolen to my local Social Security office so she could get a replacement Social Security card. She speaks slightly broken English, so I reminded her to speak slowly, but assured her that if she went to my local Social Security office that it should be quick and easy for her to obtain her replacement Social Security card.

The experience she described to me was altogether different than the one I had had. First of all, it took her three days to get her replacement Social Security card. At one point, they assured her that she had never had a Social Security card in the first place so they could not possibly give her a replacement Social Security Card. I simply couldn't believe the scenario she described for me.

I felt completely embarrassed as I listened to her story and wished that I had never referred her to "my local Social Security office" which I now wanted to deny any connection with whatsoever. This was a hard-working, newly sworn in United States citizen who had been victimized by a thief, who was now being further victimized because she didn't speak perfect English, or because she looked Japanese, or perhaps simply because she needed a replacement Social Security card, as if, perhaps, foreign-born Americans were never supposed to need a replacement Social Security card for any reason.

I googled "foreign born citizens obtaining a replacement social security card" and found an article that described several issues regarding obtaining a replacement Social Security card. "When you come to the USA on any type of extended visa, you will need to visit your local social security office to obtain a social security card. But be prepared for several “chicken and egg” problems as you do, because of tight visas and new or newly enforced immigration rules you may encounter difficulty in obtaining your social security card. "Once you do obtain it," the article warned, "do not lose it. The horror stories of foreign-born citizens trying to obtain a replacement Social Security card are considerable."

A sushi dinner was ample to reassure my friend that all was well with America. She actually likes much of American sushi better than the sushi in her own country. I didn't bring up her experience at obtaining a replacement Social Security Card. I no longer send anyone to "my local social security office." In fact, I am now trying to remember never to use the possessive regarding institutions of any kind. Hey, I used to refer to Washington mutual as "my bank" now they are no longer even their own bank. The times, they are a changin'.