Dad had to apply for a passport. He did all his paper work and sent in the application. He was expecting to receive a pass port in the mail. A letter came and it did not contain a passport. There was letter that said, "Mr. Kline, we have never heard of you!"
Dad was amazed. He had filed income tax forms for at least thirty years. Dad gathered information to prove who he was and sent it off. He used his school attendance record and I think a baptismal certificate. This time the passport came.
Now it's quite a shock to hear from your government that they have never heard of you. Dad thought it was a hoot.
One answer this gave to him was that during he war all of Dad's friends received a letter inviting them to join the forces and fight in the second world War. Dad never got a letter. Now he knew why. The government had never heard of him.
Most people Dad's age did not have birth certificates. First Dad thought that his Dad had failed to register him when he was born. Dad was born in harvest time and he thought his Dad had maybe for got to get the paperwork done.
In Canada, the provinces register the births and then pass the information on to the Federal Govt. What Dad didn't know is that in Saskatchewan the birth registrations from 1910 to 1912 mysteriously disappeared. Dad was in this group. The federal government was never informed of his birth.
Only my Dad could take this situation in a humorous way and tell me about it so that I wouldn't forget it..
bless him! to think he could have lived a tax-free, service-free life and no one would have known! instead, he sounds like a good man with a good sense of humor. :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes you don't realize your good fortune until you bumble it. Dad would have paid his income tax although he didn't like paying income tax
DeleteWOw, imagine the registration of your birth being lost!! I wonder if that could happen now, with one big computer meltdown at the registry office?
ReplyDeleteI think losses could easily happen now.
DeleteGreat old story Red! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. It's one of the things Dad told me that I won't forget.
DeleteWell, the government managed to take his tax money without knowing who he was!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad he got it figured out without too much trouble. Interesting story.
Governments can be pretty dumb sometimes.
DeleteThat is a strange story, to be nobody for the government!
ReplyDeleteI would think quite a few would be in the same boat as Dad as there were many birth records lost during a three year period.
DeleteI guess it just shows how easily we could be missed, as harvest time is a very busy time, eh. Your Dad paid taxes all those years, but the govt had no record of him - well your Dad certainly had a good story to tell and it is kinda funny that the govt didn't know of his existance? Very interesting story Red - Is that you sitting on your Mama's knees in the photo??
ReplyDeleteYou're about 25 years out. The baby is their first grandchild who will be 50 next month.
DeleteWell since they had never heard of him they should have given him all his tax money back :)
ReplyDeleteI like your suggestion. We need guys like you in govt.
DeleteI had to laugh at Linda's comment. You're right: they didn't mind taking his tax payments, even thought he didn't exist. Glad he got it after all. You told a good story, Red. Thanks. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is one of Dad's stories that caught my attention.
DeleteAnother great story! Abe, you should compile all these mini stories into a book.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have guy who says he will publish them if he wins the lottery!!!!
DeleteI also enjoyed this story and appreciate Linda's comment. It would be quite a shock to hear from the government that they have never heard of you! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a shock for Dad but he thought overall that it was funny.
DeleteMy dad experienced much the same thing. He was born in Modesto, California in a ranch house instead of a hospital and his birth was never recorded. This didn't stop the government from drafting him in WWII but it caused a problem when my mom wanted to go on a cruise and Dad needed a passport.
ReplyDeleteFunny how they can pick and chose.
DeleteLinda was right on her comment.
ReplyDeleteHope you have these stories left for Grandchildren. in a book. I knew a gentlemen who did that. He showed me all his writings. He had a manual of his life and when he passed. His Grand kids loved them all.
He even wrote a book and it was published Bathroom stories. Plus a book of Unionville, Ontario, Canada.
His name was Mr. Pastmoor. he was a schoolteacher. I am sure you could get it in the Library.
My grand boys love to hear how my hubby's life in Holland was. What toys did you have grandpa. They ask hundreds of questions.
Most schools now are teaching the kids all about the life
and even ask them to write anything Granddad did in his life time of interest. . Compared to this life of kids. Well that was a perfect question you think. ha-ha.
At least my Grand boys and G daughters schools have and they are right into honoring the soldiers on poppy day.
I think it is wonderful.
Down to brace knuckles of important interests. for them. .
I enjoy your stories. My Mom was born in 1912.
My dad lied to get into the army. He pushed his age up two years.Got away with it. So now I see why it was possible.. I am afraid they won't catch him now. He is passed on at the old age of 96. And his nose never grew like Pinocchio to give him away. .
My Dad was born in 1912 and lived to be 95
DeleteWhen it's time to collect taxes, they know exactly who you are and where to find you :)
ReplyDeleteFun story!
When it comes to income tax nothing is sacred.
DeleteGreat story Red!
ReplyDelete