Dept. of Don't Despair
Post Canada Day Report
I wanted to post something happy after my last extremely emotional rant. The world is still pretty fucking awful, but there are good things going on as well.
For one thing, yes, yesterday was Canada Day, and as a Canadian ex-pat here in Chicago, I wanted to say I am so very proud to be a citizen of My Home and Native Land. It's got its share of problems, (and, no, getting rid of Harper doesn't eliminate them all), but I think that people in Canada still seem to have hope for the future. I'm sure people who are living there could tell me I'm wrong, but I will continue to be proud of my refugee-welcoming, single-payer-health-maintaining, multiple-party, funny, wry, quixotic, musical, ethnically diverse, totally uncategorizable country-folk and nation. I even have some Tim Hortons coffee in my freezer, and I may make a pot to celebrate, eh?
Still in a Canadian vein, I've completely forgotten to tell anyone that, for the first time in a long time, Bob and I are going, together, to Canada, on our own dime - no help from family, thanks to a situation that allowed me to buy the airline tickets - this September. No illness, no funerals; in fact, we're going to celebrate the birthday of Rob, my step-dad. He and I have birthdays very close together, so it's sort of a birthday present to myself as well.
And one of Rob's daughters has arranged for as many of his kids and grandkids, and stepkids as possible to go with him on a trip on the Bluenose II, the famous Nova Scotian schooner (or the current iteration of her.) This, for me, is celebrating the history of an amazing man on a schooner that reflects the amazing history of Nova Scotia. (Curious? Here are some links about the Bluenose and about the Bluenose tradition.) So yeah, an actual vacation; we'll be there for 10 days, and then I'll have about four days to decompress back here, before going back to work.
And tonight, Bob and I are helping Drs. Gonzo and Bob (don't ask), our closest friends in Chicago, celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. Love, patience, kindness, friendship - put them together, and they can build a life together.
Tomorrow I get to work some overtime, by visiting Wilmette's July 3 celebration (Wilmette, like Chicago, does its fun, games and fireworks on the 3rd. It's a Chicago thing.) Extra money, doing something I really, really like doing; it's a change from some of the recent work-related heaviness, and that's good. Then on Monday, Bob and I and our friend Jack, and perhaps Andy, will traipse up to Evanston's lakefront, listen to a concert band, and watch fireworks on the 4th. And maybe I'll end up feeling a little misty-eyed again.
So, yes, good things. Good, strong things that remind me life can still be worth it all. This entry was originally posted at http://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/414110.html?mode=reply, where there are currently
comments. You can comment there or here; I watch both.
I wanted to post something happy after my last extremely emotional rant. The world is still pretty fucking awful, but there are good things going on as well.
For one thing, yes, yesterday was Canada Day, and as a Canadian ex-pat here in Chicago, I wanted to say I am so very proud to be a citizen of My Home and Native Land. It's got its share of problems, (and, no, getting rid of Harper doesn't eliminate them all), but I think that people in Canada still seem to have hope for the future. I'm sure people who are living there could tell me I'm wrong, but I will continue to be proud of my refugee-welcoming, single-payer-health-maintaining, multiple-party, funny, wry, quixotic, musical, ethnically diverse, totally uncategorizable country-folk and nation. I even have some Tim Hortons coffee in my freezer, and I may make a pot to celebrate, eh?
Still in a Canadian vein, I've completely forgotten to tell anyone that, for the first time in a long time, Bob and I are going, together, to Canada, on our own dime - no help from family, thanks to a situation that allowed me to buy the airline tickets - this September. No illness, no funerals; in fact, we're going to celebrate the birthday of Rob, my step-dad. He and I have birthdays very close together, so it's sort of a birthday present to myself as well.
And one of Rob's daughters has arranged for as many of his kids and grandkids, and stepkids as possible to go with him on a trip on the Bluenose II, the famous Nova Scotian schooner (or the current iteration of her.) This, for me, is celebrating the history of an amazing man on a schooner that reflects the amazing history of Nova Scotia. (Curious? Here are some links about the Bluenose and about the Bluenose tradition.) So yeah, an actual vacation; we'll be there for 10 days, and then I'll have about four days to decompress back here, before going back to work.
And tonight, Bob and I are helping Drs. Gonzo and Bob (don't ask), our closest friends in Chicago, celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. Love, patience, kindness, friendship - put them together, and they can build a life together.
Tomorrow I get to work some overtime, by visiting Wilmette's July 3 celebration (Wilmette, like Chicago, does its fun, games and fireworks on the 3rd. It's a Chicago thing.) Extra money, doing something I really, really like doing; it's a change from some of the recent work-related heaviness, and that's good. Then on Monday, Bob and I and our friend Jack, and perhaps Andy, will traipse up to Evanston's lakefront, listen to a concert band, and watch fireworks on the 4th. And maybe I'll end up feeling a little misty-eyed again.
So, yes, good things. Good, strong things that remind me life can still be worth it all. This entry was originally posted at http://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/414110.html?mode=reply, where there are currently
comments. You can comment there or here; I watch both.