Shangri-La-Di-Da

When I went to Canada last weekend, the kids wanted to go their uncle's home. He wasn't there. But this was:

The drive to Shangri-La-Di-Da

Side yard

 Back 40

 The pool

View from the deck 

View from the pool's rock waterfall

Visiting the Site

When I went home to Canada, I stopped in at my grandparents' gravesite. I was pissed!!!! The weeds had grown so high and so thick, it was more than just embarrassing, it was maddening. Initially, my mother had planted trees and each year, she'd update the plants and used to take great care of the gravesite until someone ripped up everything she had planted. After that, she left it to other family members to care for. Which, clearly had not happened.

Before

My grandparents were 2 of the most amazing, loving, caring and generous people. They loved me very much and took great care of me while my parents worked. They cared for lots of other people's children and several of my cousins at various times. Everyone they met, loved them. Even after over 50 years of marriage, my grandparents were loving and affectionate with each other. Even when they would argue in French or Spanish and my grandfather would reply in English just to piss my grandmother off. LOL!

During

My grandfather loved to garden. I remember 'helping' him to garden in our yard.
My grandparents deserve a well-kept gravesite. I knew I had to make this right.

I enlisted the aid of J to help me pick out the appropriate low maintenance plants that will provide ground cover, color, and will return year after year. There were a couple of plants already there that were in good condition, so we left them.

It looks like not much right now, but in time, these slow-growing ground cover plants will fill the area and some of them will bloom at different times of the year.

After

When we were done, I looked over at the site next to my grandparents. I totally get why they went the fake flower route. LOL!!

In driving around the cemetery, I thought of my former perceptions. The way my family has always done death is to have a big headstone.

I used to think the poor people were the ones with the simple grave markers.

Now, I think those are the smart people. Why go through the expense of a big plot and headstone your family has to maintain? What happens when they move, or get busy, or die?

J and I plan to be cremated. Considering I've lived in Canada, Tulsa, and now Chicago, where would my gravesite be? Cremation just makes sense. And, to be honest, I don't really care where my ashes go - I'll be dead.

Brought to you by Coors Light

On our last evening in Canada, I wanted our kids to get some more bonding time in with their oldest cousin.

J would like for me to tell you that these were empty cans...

Empty. Empty. Empty.

Canada or Bust

This has been a full couple of weeks. It's obvious the school year ends next week with lots of school activities at both kids' schools. One more week until both kids are out of their respective schools for the summer. And then, it's off to Canada!!

Yes, this means my passport has arrived!!

One full year of an expired passport and the hassles that were necessary to get a new Canadian passport. I feel like I'm Canadian again and it feels sooooooo good.

J and I are looking forward to resting. We won't have our iPhones turned on. My parents are really busy people but their lifestyle is much more laid back. I'm excited about just hanging out with my sister and my mom. And hearing my dad's horrible jokes first hand. I'll get to spend an evening with my brothers and sister and parents together as a family. It's been 2 years since I've seen my brothers!!

We are headed to Niagara-on-the-Lake for a good portion of our visit. Mini Me has been to Niagara Falls but doesn't remember it as she was so young. Now, she will remember. The last time we visited The Falls, we had been living in Tulsa and were shocked at paying $10 for parking near The Falls. Now, we are like, "ONLY $10!! That's a bargain!!!" Hahahaha! Motor Mouth wants to go see a ship wreck he has been wanting to see up close for 3 years - his memory is that good!

It's kinda funny - We used to look forward to going to my family's restaurant and for a great meal. Now, we are looking forward to visiting their colon cleansing business...

J and I are going to have a date night.

All this crammed into 3 days.

Mini Me in Canada - Day 4

Mini Me is having a blast with my Mom and Dad.

Mini Me has a polka dot dress. She told me Granny ruined her dress. Turns out, my Mom has a polka dot scarf. Mini Me thought my Mom cut her dress to make a scarf! LOL!!

My Mom has been working the girl to the bone! Mini Me has been doing 'school work'. Each time she gets a sheet finished, or a right answer, Mini Me wants an organic cookie treat. Thanks for spoiling her Mom!!

Mini Me in Canada - Day 3

A PET STORE??? MY mother took Mini Me to a PET STORE?? My mother never once took me to a pet store. The closest we came to visiting a pet store was our bi-annual family visits to the African Lion Safari reserve about 30 minutes from my home town.

Seems they went to the mall and Mini Me got chocolate ice cream too.

Mini Me is having a great time but the facade cracked this morning. Mini Me started crying on the phone with J. She said she missed us all. Whoooo Hoooo!!!! I was getting a bit miffed that she wasn't missing us.

Mini Me in Canada - Day 2

My Mini Me and my brother's Mini Him were together on Wednesday. Sounds like they had a blast! My brother's Mini Him is about 1 1/2 years younger than my Mini Me. 


I can hardly wait to get pictures because Mini Him is uber tall and I suspect they look like twins with the same coloring. Mini Me's eyes are no longer bright blue like her Grandpa's but they are a lovely shade of gray. Mini Him still has blue eyes, like her Momma (pic of Mini Him). 


I know my Mom is in Grandbaby Heaven right now!

Mini Me in Canada - Day 1

Mini Me had a great trip to Granny's house. No problems crossing the border. Of course, I wrote a letter detailing our permission and had it notarized. They are having a blast so far. Mini Me bonded with my father before they left the meet-up restaurant. Her first question this morning was: "Where's Papa?"

Mini Me to Canada - T Minus 1

In less than 24 hours, Mini Me will be in Canada for 2 full weeks! I joked around and not-so-secretly looked forward to it. But as the day draws nigh, I find myself stuffing my emotions down.

I don't want to be without her smile everyday. And her hugs. I could do without the screaming and crying, that is for sure. Even Motor Mouth said he was looking forward to a break from Mini Me's crying and fighting - wow! But she is so quirky. And funny!! And she is baby girl. Two weeks!!

When I was 2, my entire family moved to Canada and left me with my grandparents in Trinidad. I don't remember those 6 months. I do remember arriving at the airport in Canada and having some mixed emotions. I can recall some residual feelings and stuff I dealt with over the years, probably stemming from that separation. So I wonder how Mini Me will fair.

The difference between me and Mini Me is I stayed with my favorite people in the world - my grandparents whom I had lived with since birth. Mini Me hasn't seen my family for an entire year. At 3 1/2, that is a long time. 

With this in mind, I've been diligent to discuss the trip with excitement and awe. And to let Mini Me talk to my Mom on the phone more often lately. I think I felt more assured things were going to go well when Mini Me talked my Dad's ear off last week. That's gotta be a good sign. Right?

I Want to CUSS!!!!!!!

If you know me at all, you know I am a PROUD Canadian and the only reason I live stateside is because my husband happens to be American. I would love to travel home to visit my family in Canada. My little niece is almost 2 and hasn't seen me in a full year.

But my passport is expired. 

Here is the situation:

1. If my passport was issued in August 2003 or later, I would be able to complete the simplified passport form. Easy peasy. It was issued in July 2003 so I could attend my sister's surprise 40th birthday party. Missed it by weeks.

2. If we lived in Tulsa, I could have any of the attorneys, dentists, doctors, notary publics we know sign my paperwork and I could go to the passport photo place in downtown to get a good passport photo taken. We moved 1.5 years ago.

3. Last year, I got a passport photo taken by the only place in Chicago I managed to find who said they did Canadian passport photo requirements. Wrong size, wrong everything.

4. We have only known the people in Chicago for 1.5 years. Have to have known them for 2 years.

5. I could have a Canadian doctor or lawyer or dentist do the guarantor form for me. Only my doctor for my entire adult life in Canada (12+ years) is no longer to be found on the internet or in practice. Our family dentist retired. And I never had use for an attorney in Canada. We have a family friend who is an attorney but the last time I saw him, I hadn't lost my 2 front teeth.

6. I can have a PPTC 132 form completed and the guarantor requirement would be a non-issue. Only they no longer have this form online because of some (insert expletive) Canadian press stories that broke.

Seriously, this shouldn't be this difficult. I love filling out forms, but when it comes to immigration or passport forms, I just feel so alone and hate the process. I have no one I can turn to for advice. I don't know any Canadians living down here. Yet still, I know there are thousands in Chicago. It makes me want to cry. And cuss. Not swear. Not curse. Cuss. A lot. And write a letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lawrence Cannon to tell him to reinstate online passport services for Canadians.

Happy Labor Day.

Ready to Return

To say I was ready to return home, to my own bed, was an understatement. When Motor Mouth sleeps with us, he tends to be a bed hog. Mini Me is worse!! My parents downsized from a 7-bedroom house, to a 5-bedroom, with only 2 rooms setup as bedrooms. So, I slept with BOTH kids. As you can see, they only gave me 6 inches to sleep on.
Motor Mouth said we should have FLOWN to Canada. He said this on the way there, and on the way back. I rather enjoyed having my own wheels, instead of borrowing a Camry from my parents, or a BMW from my brother. Or renting a minivan, like we did last year.
This was my view for 8 hours on Thursday.Technically, it only took about 6.5 hours. However, we stopped 4 times for potty breaks and the like.

Do you see how high up we were? Everything was going well on the bridge into the USA, until we hit immigration and customs traffic. I had to sit on the bridge for 30 minutes. I HATE heights. It's a developed fear. I developed it after 3 major bridge collapses in the last 3 years. I can't swim. The bridge shook. It was worse when the transport trucks zipped by. It didn't help that Motor Mouth kept pointing to things and saying, "Look Mommy! Look at the light house!" "Look at the school bus!" "Look how tiny the people look, Mommy!" Deep, slow breaths. That is what I did to stay in line.

The line before us, on the bridge. There were 3 men in the SAAB convertible in front of me. I created lives for them, to keep my mind off the height thing.

Running with Foxes

When I lived in Canada, I ran half-marathons. I decided to go to a beautiful, scenic location for a long, morning run. I ran along "The Brow". In Hamilton, where I lived, we have an escarpment - an approx. 365 ft ridge that, in places, is a straight rock drop. In other places, it is a beautiful, meandering forest, home to flora and fauna.

On this morning, I encountered some of the fauna. I am not an animal person. Needless to say, I was SCARED when a fox stopped and stared at me, like I was breakfast. I was on the same side of the street (the cliff side) as the fox.

I crossed over, to the house side. Only, look at how FAR from the road, the front door is. I looked at the fox, looked at the front door, walking ever so slowly and praying ever so hard and reverently. I was a long distance runner - built for endurance, not speed. I wasn't so sure I could outrun the fox to the front door. And what if they weren't home!!!!

Needless to say, I was sooooooooooooo relieved when the animal turned, and ran back down the hillside. I never ran there again. In fact, I think this is only the second time I DROVE past the spot since.

Dad's Garden

My Dad LOVES his garden. In the house we grew up in, he had 4 vegetable gardens and several fruit trees in the back yard. When we were growing up, my Mom always had rose gardens and each spring, her tulips would grow back. Every time I see tulips, I think of my Mom.

One year, for Christmas (pre-9/11), J and I brought this rock to Canada, in our carry-on luggage. I had scoured Tulsa, trying to find someone who would carve it for us. Only one place in town could do it. Dad liked it so much, he kept the rock in his living room, for 7 years!

My parents just moved. I was so surprised when I walked up to my parent's door and found this, out front!! Tulips and the rock. Someone who lived in the house before, planted the tulips. It seems my kiddos helped my parents in their efforts to redesign the front flower bed!

BEFORE

AFTER

Motor Mouth & Mini Me, helping in the re-landscaping project.

Headed to Canada!!

I am headed to Canada with the kiddos...TODAY!! I'm going home! 

We are going to spend Mother's Day with my Mom.

We are leaving as soon as my 2 J's get back from Union Station. Today is National Train Day. On May 10th, 1869, in Utah, the golden spike was driven, into the final tie, creating the Transcontinental Railway. Motor Mouth loves trains. Well, he is obsessed with them, actually.

Not sure how long we will stay. I think I will have access to the internet, so I can blog. We made a decision this morning, and I'm gonna be there tonight!! I've kinda been lonely here, so it will be nice to be with friends and family.