1.21.2006

o canada

From years of watching hockey as a child, I actually know the words to the national anthem of our neighbor to the north. Today I went to Canada ... for a few hours. The border guard asked what brought me to Canada. I said I was having lunch with one of our sisters. He said, "You drove from Oregon to have lunch." Yep, although actually I'm on groovy sister reserves so I only drove from my Seattle weekend groovy sister pad. Had lunch. Then drove back to Seattle.

Great visit with Sr. Emilia. She's 85 and has more energy than I have at 33. I'm writing an article on her for our community magazine. Less than two weeks to get that done! But I have lots of material and memories of a wonderful visit with her today.

My visit to Canada also meant I got to listen to Canadian radio. On the English station I learned about their upcoming election Monday. Always fascinating, at least to an elections geek like myself! On the French station, I got to practice my French. And, wouldn't you know that as I turned to the station they were playing the one French language artist I know and love ... Francis Cabrel. I discovered him during my time living outside Geneva, Swtizerland.

So a great day. And to top it off, my sisters here at the house surprised me by inviting me along to see the great comedien Bob Newhart tonight.

Groovy.

5 comments:

lorem ipsum said...

I love Canada. I actually hung out in Ontario and Quebec one summer during my college years and went to baseball games, so I, too, got to know the national anthem. I know this screams 'stereotype,' but I did find that the people were so polite and the streets so clean. At the time, I thought most of the men good-looking and many of the women looking like Linda McCartney.

How was Bob?

Susan Rose Francois, CSJP said...

Bob was good. That really was a surprise. I knew they were going, and thought I'd have a night on my own. But they got me a last minute ticket!

Bob is a master. He's getting older and maybe a bit forgetful, but it works with his comedy style.

My favorite joke (or one of): We Catholics, we got along fine until about 15 years ago. The Pope didn't bother us. We didn't bother him. ... And then they decided Christopher wasn't a saint!

That's a paraphrase on my part.

One other interesting tidbit I found out - his sister is a BVM Sister.

(Did you know Bill Murray's sister is a Dominican?)

Anonymous said...

I have to think that there are worse stereotypes to have than being clean and polite.

I'm a wanna-be Canadian at heart. My mission, once I join my own Groovy Sisters is to get Michigan to secede and join Canada. Then life would be just perfect.

Gee, Susan, where'd you get that little tidbit about Bill Murray's sister, I wonder?

;-)

lorem ipsum said...

So do they call their siblings (a la Father Mulcahy), 'My sister the sister'?

My BN connection: I had a high school friend whose dad went to high school with BN. Seems he was doing pratfalls and such even back then.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Bob Newhart! That's great. Wish I could have gone along.

I am just digging learning about nuns from you, Natty, the others. Who knew! how insanely cool nuns are!?

(not this little Episcopalian)

so glad to be on the journey with you.