C IS FOR...

C is for Canada---my home and native land.
I love Canada. I do. So why, you may ask, did I pick myself up and abandon her in 1970?

As Allan King once said: A man can love two women...one is his mother the other his wife. (thank you Maeshey!)
Now, for me I would have to say two men...but that makes Canada the Fatherland and that brings to mind Nazi Germany and that is a whole other story that I don't want to get in to. But you get what I mean.

I loved Canada. I was happy there. When I was growing up in Windsor, Ontario, it was a GREAT place to be. The streets were safe; everyone knew everyone and one helped their neighbour; the educational system was wonderful; I had the best family and the most marvelous friends.

Until one summer afternoon when my El Al plane landed in Ben Gurion Airport...known at the time as Lod.
The second my feel touched the ground, I lost my heart and was never happy any place else.

So, I live in Jerusalem...yahoooooo...and I remember Canada.

I remember The Dairy Queen on Tecumseh Street. I remember Sunday mornings at the Windsor Jewish Community Center where everybody knew my name.I remember pizza at Mario's. I remember Jack Miner's Bird Sanctuary. I remember driving to Essex for ice cream. I remember 'the old farshtunkeneh bear'; who was stuck in a cage along the road someplace.  I remember the sound of dry leaves crunching under my feet and the brilliance of God's paintbrush in the fall. I remember the snow. I remember driving along Riverside Drive looking at all the fancy houses and the Detroit skyline across the river. I remember the ribs at the Tunnel. I remember butter tarts and pecan pie. I remember Friday night dances at Walkerville. I remember Day Camp.

I remembered so much that I'm coming home for a couple of weeks this summer. Was going to stay for a week but my best friend, the Guv said to make it three weeks.

I asked her how long I could stay before she would send me to Niagara Falls. She laughed. It was a standing joke in our family that when company came and overstayed their welcome, my mom, Bubbie Channah would begin describing the wonders of Niagara Falls. Within minutes she had them salivating and off they went. See everyone knows that fish and company begin to smell after three days.And, nobody messed with da Bub!

But, the Guv said I had to stay three weeks and could stay for three months but NOT three years.

So, if you're going to be in the area the last three weeks in August give me a call and maybe we'll go try out the ribs or grab a cup of coffee and some pecan pie.

I'll never be thin...I'll never be thin...oh hell, I'll diet tomorrow!!!

Ah, Canada.

Here are some quotes from a little book called Eh Canada? by Eliakim Katz:
1. A Canadian is an unarmed American with a health plan...Brad Green
2. Inuit have many words for snow but no word for camel...John MacDonald, government official
3.British Columbia is a large body of land entirely surrounded by envy...Eric Nicol
4.Toronto is a kind of New York operated by the Swiss...Peter Ustinov
5. Remember, you are not living in sin. You are living in Ottawa. Sin is across the river...anonymous
6. Canada is a very nice place, and we intend to keep it that way...J.P.Morgan

ps. And it is still the best passport in the world!!!

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.