It's not as easy as it should be....

[nwhiker]

So. I needed to find my birth certificate so me and the kids can apply for a Canadian certificate of citizenship. I found an unofficial copy, but the original, with the raised seal, is 100% missing. I tried the safety deposit box, where I thought it would be, and then tore apart multiple locations.

Despite all the tearing, I found loads of stuff, but not that. I ordered a new one from New York City, which should take a month or more, WTF people. I mean, in this day and age? Especially since the service has been outsourced to a private company.

Here is what REALLY annoys me: I have an envelope from the place the kids' birth certificates are that says "Mine, not kids' :)" Said envelope is needless to say, EMPTY.

Anyhow. Spent a lot of time in my closet, with no lots of room, because of all the boxes (two gigantic ones) of clothes that no longer fit.

Some of these clothes date back from the early 2000s, LOL. I had clothes in all sizes from 16 to 26. Most of them were dearly loved. And I packed them into three big trash bags for donation. And I feel like crying.





OK. No. Let's be honest. I did cry.

I saved a few shirts that I love, even if they don't fit and a pair of hiking pants. Those are a size 26 and still have some mud in the hem (after being washed). I hiked in those pants. At the size to fit in them, at twice my current weight, I hiked. I just can't. I'm stupid emotional about all this.

What was really funny. I'd either already gone through the clothes once, or they were tossed in the donate bin when I realized they were too big. And yet... I kept on looking at various items and thinking "Oh these should still fit!" and trying them on. None of them did. It took about a dozen failures before I severely told myself "No, they will not fit! when the impulse to try on another item struck.

It's a big change. And it's hard to get rid of some of these things because I, umm, still wear the same stuff only in smaller sizes. 🤣

I'm gonna kick myself hard if I regain the weight, OMG.

Comments

[camelsamba]

You probably needed your actual birth certificate to get your real ID driver's license - not sure how long ago that would have been in WA (it was maybe at least 6 years ago for me?), but maybe that will help you track it down...

[nwhiker]

That's the problem. I've had a passport since I was a small child and I was able to use that to prove citizenship. 🤪 Actually, do you guys have enhanced IDs in Michigan? It's real id but also proves citizenship so I can use it to get into Canada (ok and Mexico etc). I know some border states have it and others don't.

The last time I'm pretty sure I needed my birth certificate was when I got married. And that was in the last freaking millennium! 🤣

[camelsamba]

yes, we have the option for enhanced IDs but I don't have one (wasn't willing to pay the cost since I have a passport, even though is would be more convenient). We have a young friend who took a day trip to Canada with her RealID thinking it was an enhanced ID - Canada let her in but warned she might not be able to get back, but it worked out okay. (There was a backup plan in place involving her parents driving to Port Huron while she waited in a Tim Hortons, but it ended up not being necessary. :^)