Atomic dogmA

In the last week it feels like I’ve gone from the Dark Ages to the Ice Age.

Xynthia came storming through Europe and made a huge mess of Central Portugal before wreaking havoc in France.   We lost electricity early Friday morning and were plunged into life without power for five challenging days.  While Papersurfer Jr anxiously waited to skateboard on the X-Box I fretted about our food-filled freezer. After two days of jigsaw puzzles, Lego and Scrabble the novelty wore off and we spent the next few days stacking firewood in the barn, clearing trees from our track and alternately cursing EDP (Energias de Portugal).

By the grace of the hockey gods, generous friends let us borrow their generator just in time for the final Canada-US game. It was 7:40 into overtime and we sat on the edge of our seats, fingers crossed that the generator wouldn’t run out of petrol. When Sidney Crosby scored one of the biggest goals in Canadian hockey history I thought I would burst with pride. Gold medal celebrations kept powerless spirits up in Cabril while I packed my suitcase by candlelight.

EDP finally showed up a few days later and our power was restored but telephone and internet remained out of reach. I reluctantly left Portugal and a mere 23 hours later I arrived in Calgary, the land of ice and snow. This city keeps growing and new buildings appear every time I visit but it’s still the same urban sophistication and warm western hospitality that I remember from my childhood.

True Patriot Love by Brendan Lynch

But something has happened here in my home and native land. The air may be frosty but the hearts of Canadians are glowing. The 2010 Winter Olympics changed something. No longer shy or reluctant about feeling patriotic, I finally see the Canadian flag waving with incredible pride.  As a nation I think we have always been proud to be Canadian, but somehow it’s more than that. It’s louder without being obnoxious. It’s more visible without being in-your-face.

I may no longer call this country my home but I will always carry its true patriot love.*

After all … I. am. CANADIAN.

* For the record, I am totally okay with the rest of the lyrics and have never been offended or felt excluded by all thy sons command.  I suspect Parliament probably has more pressing issues than exploring gender-neutral wording …

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PS: Thank you and merci to Daddy P, Penfold, Emma, Web-Betty, and daisyfae for their comments on Papersurfer: Now in Print! And a special thanks to everyone who bought a copy of Penfold’s book!

PPS: And obrigada to Esta, who reads this blog faithfully even though he never leaves a comment …