DEAR CANADA,

Wanted to write and thank you for showing us a nice time; us meaning Sue (wife), Shawnee (our little Dachshund), and myself.  

Yes, Sue and I had been up and “abewt” your lovely nation a few previous times over the decades, but last year at the age of 78 (can you say "bucket list"?) we decided it was about time to see it all…….at least in terms of all 10 Provinces.  (We’ve visited all 50 States here, and a few other countries, but Canada is too fantastic to miss in anyone’s lifetime.)  Last September we did the campgrounds in an RV from British Columbia to Ontario.  The Rockies were spectacular.   However, we had to shed a few tears at the sight of Jasper following the earlier forest-fire damage.   We were among the first tourists allowed back in.   But Banff.  Whistler.   World class; doesn’t get any better!

This July it was strictly motels and condo units from Ontario east.   By car.  Some time in Ottawa with a double-decker bus tour starting at your Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.   There it occurred to me that those soldiers of yours who died weren’t protecting the homeland from attack or invasion (I can’t think of a harder country to invade!) but were protecting the freedom and dignity of those in other lands.   I believe the name for that is altruism.   Or what the Bible calls “love of neighbor as self” and “laying down one’s life for another”…..I believe we call that “no greater love.”

Crossed Quebec.   Amazing how little I remember from my one year of high school French as a curious but not very serious Sophomore.   Crossed New Brunswick;  Bay of Fundy was amazing. Nova Scotia; Halifax was delightful.   Ferried our away across to the western port of Newfoundland/Labrador; Gros Morne was magnificent.   Prince Edward Island; Anne of Green Gables and the red sand beaches were wonderful.  Got our fill of lobster, or at least tried our best.   Never forget that lobster truck in NL.  Rolls with big chunks drenched in butter.   Best ever.

So at age 78 we can’t say we’ve seen it all, but through all 10 Provinces plus some prior time in Dawson City, Yukon seeing our first roof top lawn mower, we’ve seen enough to know this:  Canada is what we’d like our own United States of America to be like when we grow up.   A cosmopolitan mix of races, creeds, faiths, nationalities.    The kind of melting pot we’ve aspired to be here in the lower 48.   Healthy.  Clean.   Safe.  Friendly.   Educated.   At least for the most part.   Exceptions everywhere, of course.   Nobody’s perfect.

Noticed considerably less rural poverty than we find downstairs here in the lower 48.   Saw almost no substandard housing.   Saw less homelessness.   Less poverty overall.   Found PEI especially nice.  Modern.   Green.   Warmer than our place in Ohio during the winter months.    Love both Prince Edward and Vancouver Island.   Unspoiled gardens of Eden for visitors like us. 

But if you’re Canadian and reading this by some chance, I’m telling you what you already know.

So what might you not know?

You may have no idea how sad Sue and I were this year, unlike our previous visits to Canada, to hear how many of your people expressed not feeling safe visiting our country again.   At least not unless things change here politically.   It’s hard for us to unhear the attorney from Toronto we met in Quebec who said, “I know Orlando (FL) like the back of my hand, but we’ve sold our winter home there.   Have no intention of going back until things change.”  Or to forget the young lady from the Netherlands  we met in Newfoundland who’d been all around the world on holiday but was skipping the United States because she felt unsafe.    Again and again and again and again.   “We won’t be traveling down your way this year.”   Also, that young person working at the Duty Free Shop in NB just a few meters away from the USA point of entry near Houlton, Maine.   Shelves were bare.   “We’re having to close next week.”   Nobody is headed south onto I-95 here.   Used to be packed with truckers wanting cigarettes.   The trucks have stopped coming.  Same with the rest of those who used to head south on vacation.

You might not know how sad we are to think that the nicest folks we’ve ever met on earth, our North American cousins from just upstairs, are backing away out of fear.   Not that we blame you, but it’s a bit like having a girlfriend or boyfriend breaking up over “that family of yours.”    Like hearing “we like you and if it weren’t for your parents we’d stay together, but I think we need to break it off.   At least for awhile.”         

Changing governments isn’t quite as hard as changing parents, or families, but it’s not all that easy either.    Especially now.   These parents are billionaires.  And they’re not going anywhere if they can help it; and recent history proves they can help it.   They can afford to stay but we cannot afford to leave.   We call family down here who mostly try to empower others and give their own power away “Democrats.”  We call family who mostly hold onto their own power and try to disempower others “Republicans.”  

And so we will miss you but we won’t blame you.  We feel sad, bad, and mad about the whole mess we have here.  But so very glad for our trips across your lovely nation, from sea to shining sea.   When we think of “America the Beautiful,” we include Canada in every line, note and lyric.   Maybe someday you’ll feel safe to get back together again!

Come see us when you can.

Love,

Dan & Sue (and Shawnee)