This is my second story since my family and I began our early summer vacation in our old stomping grounds of southern Ontario. Generally, it is not an advisable practice to advertise on social media sites that you are travelling. In the wrong hands, that information could lead to unscrupulous sorts visiting your residence and borrowing, in a permanent fashion, things that are valuable or even worse, things that you value.
People who violate the sacracy of our homes not only steal our possessions, but they also rob something that is far more endearing, our peace of mind. I often wonder what would I do should that ever happen to me? Would I take it upon myself to track down these villains, so that I could be the self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner? Probably not. Would I feel empathy for the conditions that befell these hapless souls and necessittated them to take such drastic measures in order to merely feed and clothes themselves? Probably not. Perhaps that is one of those questions that will only be answered when it is lived.
I'm betting that my home is safe and sound while Lynda, the kids, and I frolic in the heat and gridlock of T.O. In fact, in may be more secure with me not being there. The reason for that is I have a very unique home security system. It is a super smart system that has been refining and improving itself for over seven decades. It is one that will deter and thwart any would-be invader who would dare to climb my cliff-like driveway and storm the vinyl clad walls of my castle. Even if a sinister sinner should try to breach my home by using stealth, they would not stand a chance. That security system is ferocious, a real pitbull, and as tenacious, alert and at-the-ready as a team of US Navy Seals. I wouldn't want to chance it and neither should anyone else. To perspective B&E demons, you have been fair warned, Grammie is on guard. Oh yeah, please give Jasper a rub behind the ears when he comes to meet you. That big, black, bear of a dog wouldn't hurt a fly.
Our trip has been wonderful so far. We are at the half way mark and have experienced many of the awesome sights and sounds that big cities have to offer. There have been a couple of things that seem to stick in my mind. Not surprisingly for me, they are not your typical tourist trap memories, but rather just things about people and how we seem to live and experience life. I'd like to share them with you:
- My daughter, 8 year old Avery, was ready to tackle anything that this trip had to offer. No big city was going to intimidate her. After landing at the Toronto airport, we were walking up the jetway to the terminal when Avery made the following comment about the illuminated sign above the first door that we encountered: "Hey daddy, why does that sign say ENTER SHORTY?" It was as if Avery had her guard up and was determined not to be demeaned because we were Newfies. In her defence, she hasn't had any French language training, so I can see how SORTIE could have been confusing to her. But, not in her defence, similar doors in Newfoundland have the exactly the same sign hanging above them. Avery hasn't beaten up any mainlanders (yet), so I think she has calmed down somewhat.
- My older daughter just completed grade 5. During the school year, Kendall and her classmates from St. Francis of Assisi School in Outer Cove, Newfoundland were pen pals with a grade 5 class in Mississauga, Ontario. Individual students were matched and wrote to one another, telling about school and family life in their respective communities. Photos of the classes were also exchanged. Kendall's teacher told us that her students were amazed to discover that their pen pal friends were all kids of colour. The teacher of the Mississauga grade 5's is my friend, Mr. P, so I also learned that his class was as equally amazed to discover that their pen pal friends were all white kids. These were nothing more than accurate observations. The kids had a fabulous year corresponding back and forth and many asked to continue writing even after school finished for the year. The experience has been particularly rewarding for Kendall. Yesterday, she visited her pen pal class in person and met her pal, Mya. Kendall stayed with the class for the afternoon and she tells me that she really enjoyed it. I told her that those kids are in school for another week before getting off on summer holidays and I asked if she would like to go back for a full day. I knew the answer before I even asked the question. Kendall is quiet, thoughtful and she's no dummy - she already graduated from grade 5.
- So many people here. We've been on the subway and walked Yonge Street. No one looks at you, rather they stare straight ahead or down at the ground. At home, we commonly give a nod of the head or a little wave to all who we meet. It's a simple but ingrained act to show respect and fellowship. Maybe it's all just as well that they don't do that here. With so may people, it would be impossible to drive with two hands of the wheel and everyone would have a perpetually sore neck.
- On Tuesday, I took my kids and my two nieces to Canada's Wonderland. All four girls are similar in age and I knew they would spur each other on to try the various rides and roller coasters. I was quite content to keep my feet firmly on terra firma. All was going as planned, until the kids pleaded with me to join them on the Bohemoth. The crowds weren't large, so the kids were able to ride this spectacular looking roller coaster four times with little time wasted in line ups. I finally gave in and agreed. It would be great for any dad to have such a shared experience with his children. The kids strongly suggested that I sit behind them. I wondered if it was because they were afraid that dear old dad may toss his cookies and they didn't want to be in the line of fire. Smart kids. The ride was unreal! I laughed for the entire three and a half minutes as that contraption tried everything in its power to buck me off. I'm not sure if my laughter was brought on by enjoyment or terror. In any event, my laughter caused my eyes to water. Okay, maybe I was crying. My body was experiencing things that it never had, so I'm not exactly sure what was going on with it. I guess my tears weren't just a little drizzle, but were more like a stream. I know this because, over my laughter, I could hear the teen aged girl directly behind me exclaiming over and over to her coaster companions "Guys, it's raining, it's raining!" When the ride stopped, I didn't have the heart to tell her. Perhaps she figured it out herself when she realized there was not a single cloud in the sky. If anything, all you readers can take one thing away from this experience - always sit in the first row of a roller coaster.
With one more week of vacation before we head back east just in time to catch some caplin, I hope to have at least one more opportunity to write while sitting outside in warm breezes and with no black flies looking at me like a buffet. Bye for now.
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