Escape!

Home, at last!

We have escaped!  We crossed the border at about 3 pm Tuesday.  Although we did not kiss the ground (we were on the ferry) we did a little dance, thanked everyone, then apologized for being intrusive, eh.

So far, wherever we have been, we love to come back to Canada.  We really do live in the best country in the world.  Part of that feeling comes from familiarity, I know, but nevertheless I still believe we are the best place to live.  The scenery is beautiful, the smiles are genuine and we care for each other.

Don’t get me wrong the Americans are good hosts.  Individually they are the same as people everywhere; for the most part genuine and friendly.   There are some philosophical differences, however, that are a problem for us.

I think the biggest thing for us is the “Old Testament” thinking that abounds south of the border.   You know the Old Testament:  Love Me or I will Smite Thee.  I find it hard to imagine feeling all warm and fuzzy about someone who tells me to love him or he will light me on fire and watch me burn for all eternity.  In mortal terms that means “Give US all your oil or I will Smite thee with Shock and Awe”.  Those tactics have been tried for thousands of years.  Hasn’t been that successful. 

There is a big market for portable “Smiters” down there.  They call them “handguns”.  I guess that is how they reconcile the Christianity with the weapons bit.  If God can smite you for not loving him – so can we!  We just change a few words: for “God” substitute “America” and for “the devil” substitute “Communist” or, to make it simple, substitute “Everyone Else”. Very big on the smiting thingy!

God bless America…

Fall leaves in Pioneer Park

I do miss the sunshine and warmth.   I knew we were coming back to “Victoria in November” weather but it was still a shock.  Like that first plunge into the lake – you know it is going to be bad but you do it anyway because it will be worth it.  But you still gasp, holler and scrinch up your face. 

It is nice to be back in our own house, but we are sleeping in the study.  Our daughter and her fellow are living in and taking care of our house while we are away.  It is a small house and there are two families worth of stuff in it, which leaves only a limited space for people.  It is a good thing we get along!  Including the tenants downstairs we have six people living in a house that is really meant for two.  We don’t mind, but I am not sure in what mental state my daughter will be in by the time we leave…  Mind you, that is a concern every time we visit.

We leave on the next stage of our journey on the 20^th of November to head to Southeast Asia.  That gives us almost three weeks here to take care of a few things like dentist appointments, hair appointments (Telen – not me!), travel agent appointments, re-packing, etc. etc. 

Reality rears its ugly head once again!!

However, we also get to visit with friends and family that we have missed.  In most cases that bit is not so ugly.  At least for us – I cannot speak for them.

Even though we have things to do we are still in holiday mode. Translation: lack of motivation.  I find myself reading in bed until midnight or 1 am and getting up around 9 am.  At least that is the plan.  Bug (my daughter’s cat) has decided that I am the breakfast guy and she jumps on my head at 6:30 or 7 to get me motivated to feed her.  Cute can get you a long way with a guy but it really drains his energy. 

That sounds like a metaphor for teenage relationships, doesn’t it?

We had to scrub the car.  After driving across Canada and down through the US we managed to terminate the lives of many, many insects.  If they all count towards my Karma I have to do a lot of reincarnations to get caught up.  Kind of like just paying the minimum on a credit card – going to be a LONG time getting to Nirvana!