All Rise: O Canada On Rubber Chickens
The kids. They feud. Complain about fairness. Bicker back and forth about who gets time and attention. About getting different rewards and for doing different jobs. Sometimes they get along when they all want something. Or like any good group, when two band together and leave one out or team up against them.
Anyway, what’s this to do with Canada, you say? I don’t know!
Today we’re out and about in this very rainy summer, first with partner V and I, then the youngest and middle kid, joined by mom-partner L. Probably some time at the leg grounds (in a non serious capacity) and downtown (in a design works capacity).
Every year I reflect on this experiment of nationhood and all its component parts, its failures (past ones, but not entirely…), and the pieces that need work.
I’ve been to a good portion of the provinces and territories, exploring and learning, watching and listening. And we are a nation that has a lot of values and ideals in common. Sure there’s conflicting approaches and personalities, but we all have much the same ideas about the environment, family, self-reliance, neighbourliness (to mangle a word), and where we’re going. There’s the usual ignorance and blinders as well, but much less than other certain countries or what online monoliths may insist.
This province has very much the same mindset as the rest, for the most part. More opinionated, sure. And prone to speaking before thinking (not me, oh never). And yet here we are, less than 121 years old and still growing and building, imagining and making mistakes. Like our siblings, I mean neighbours.
Wow that got close to some real sap, eh. Not maple, either. Side note: I enjoy maple flavour, but hold the actual syrup, please.
So what I’m saying is, it’s great to be here. A part in a whole. And while other lands are great to visit and could be a good home, this is where I choose to be. The whole, if not the part.
Anyhow, have some beaver tails, maybe some excellent local drinks and food and ice cream either out in the yard or at a food truck! Stay dry and maybe watch some (professionally done) loud, sparkly explosions.
Location: Churchill Square, Alberta, Canada
Song: Sloan – Rest Of My Life
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