Irritations

[jhetley]

Due to various and sundry attitudes on the part of our government, we are applying for passports.  And discovered that we need assorted information which we did not have with us, and which some people of our age might not have available in any case.  Like, birthdates for parents long deceased . . .

On the other hand, coming from generations of pack-rats has its benefits.  Managed to dig birth certificates for both my parents out of our attic.  Of course, the one for Dad is conjectural -- filed a year after his birth, with no physician in attendance.  Go back over a hundred years and that thing was more common than not.

So we head back to the post office in a day or so to complete the process.  Just so we can drive over to Canada on a whim, or to attend a funeral.

Grump.

Comments

[wolfette]

why do you need your parents' birth certificates?

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

You don't need to submit your parents' birth certificates, but you do need to state on the application your parents' full names, dates of birth, and places of birth.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

As Janet said, needed dates and places of birth. Which, in both our cases, needed checking -- long ago, in a far-away land. And vague.

Compounding the problem, both my parents had passports*. Since we live in the age of The Big Computer, I wanted to be sure I used the *same* made-up dates, in case of cross-checking.

*I shredded 'em, cleaning out Mom's house.

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

I'm not certain at what age I crossed a border for the first time, but it was somewhere in the 4-8 week mark. My mother used to shop in Switzerland and I've had a passport since I can remember.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I've crossed the Canadian border numerous times, but that *used* to just require slowing down and waving at the nice Customs guy. Both ways.

Now they want passports.

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

I'll be damned. The passport folks no longer accept a state-issued non-driver identification card.

[quilzas.livejournal.com]

I got my passport, what, a couple years ago now? Maybe three. With how things were even going then, I figured I was going to need one if I wanted to even just take a stroll to Canada. I figured it was better to get it and have that over with.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

We started digging out documents back when the Feds started saying we couldn't use Maine driver's licenses for airport ID. They backed off on that after The Guv waved smoke and mirrors about residency proof, but we have friends and family in Canada. So.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

I know I'm going to have to do this too, what with most of my dad's family living in Canada. Maybe someday I'll just decide to stay there.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Just remember to keep the lies straight. That was my problem with Dad's date and place -- I suspect that the town on his birth certificate is not actually the place where he was born. Folks tended to be more casual about such things over a century ago.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

My dad was born in Windsor. Depending on who you ask he was born in one of several different homes, but I don't think anybody cares. The official records just list Essex County, Ontario. My mom is easier, since she was actually born at a hospital!

[pernishus.livejournal.com]

Just so we can drive over to Canada on a whim, or to attend a funeral.

"Or both," remarks Pernicious the Musquodoboit Harbour Farm Cat, glaring significantly at his faithful amanuensis and general factotum....

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Barnstead hasn't been feeding you well enough?

[pernishus.livejournal.com]

"I'm afraid you have misconstrued the significance of my glare, dear monsieur Hetley," remarks Pernicious the Musquodoboit Harbour Farm Cat, and hands monsieur Hetley a nifty pair of Ray-Bans...

[hairmonger.livejournal.com]

It's good thing my late mother never needed a birth certificate for anything, because when she was born Alabama had not started registering births. Her father applied for her first driver's license and sent it to her while she was away at college.

Mary Anne in Kentucky