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Today’s commentary has been written from its title.
Not often do I title a piece until I have written it and edited for the most
part. But that is not so for today. After a dumping of November snow I found
myself thinking what it meant to me to be Canadian. What were the things about
my country I am proud of and maybe not so proud of…eh??? Or maybe just my thought...
The table on our deck. Photo by Lisa Anne
Canadians are a hardy bunch. We endure long cold
winters that seem to never end. We do it with style through ice sports like
hockey, figure skating, skiing and tobogganing. I have never been much of a hockey fan until the last two winter Olympic
games. In Vancouver, Canada showed the world that we are made of the right stuff.
Not only did we win both men’s and women’s hockey golds but we also won and
broke the record for the most medals won by a host country. I think that is
pretty spectacular. And just to be Canadian one step further we go to Sochi and
come home with bilateral gold medals again for hockey. I remember watching the
women’s game and feeling down right lost as the clock ticked down and the score
was for the other team. We tied it up in the last few seconds and then in
overtime slammed it home for the win!!! Way to do it ladies!!!
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But all-in-all we have cornered the market on snow
blowers and shovels, snowmobiles, skies, and quite possibly winter outerwear.
Most true Canadians have owned or know someone who has or does own a Hudson’s
Bay coat. That would include yours truly as an owner, thank you. These garments
are the epitome of Canadian outerwear. The coloured stripes on the beige
background is very distinctive and the warmth of such a coat is undeniable.
Also so is the weight. You need to be in good shape to wear one!!! I remember the
deep red, navy, grass green and the bright yellow always holding some position
in our family cottage on a cold night. Then as I grew up I found the value of a
Bay blanket on my bed at home. To this day in winter I slip under the weight of
a six point gift of warmth that I will never surrender.
My final thoughts are about winter storms. I
remember plenty of them as a child and ones that came with walloping winds,
tons of snow and lots of ice. This always made the roads slippery for those who
would shag. If you do not know what that is, I will not hold responsibility for
telling you and it is not dirty, just dangerous. Almost every car I rode in
went sideways along the roads and there was always the slipping backwards down
the hills as cars were unable to climb and top small mounts that were heavily
topped with snow. The snowmen in the yards were made by every household on the
block and the forts to have snowball fights were built to last the season. We
still have storms like that. We have just had one that was caused by lake
effect snow and possibly another one coming. That will never change in Canada,
we are the country that counts on these storms for our survival. These storms replenish
our land and cover it with a blanket to allow it to rest for the following
spring when it will come alive again. A country of four distinct seasons that
do not blend and are their very own in every way. So after all of this my best
thought about Canadian snow storms…the invention of the snow day from school!!!
Mystic Beauty of a Storm. Photos by Lisa Anne
Buried. Photo by Lisa Anne
I have always been proud to be Canadian. From the
poppy I wear lest I forget, to ones I grow in honour of a grandfather. To the
places I have seen and the simple saying of “Sorry” I am proud. We are a nation
true and strong and we stand together and will not fall. I have pride in the
beauty of this country, from the mountains of the west coast to the flats of
the prairies, through the mosquitoes of Manitoba and the great lakes of Ontario,
the history of Quebec and the rich culture of the east coast (which I am yet to
visit) I have pride. We are the true north, strong an free and in that I stand
a Canadian.
My Garden Sink & Potting Bench. Photos by Lisa Anne
The Shed. Photo by Lisa Anne
