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My mother sent this video to me and I’m so glad I got to see it. Maybe it was the sappy music, or the sweeping mountain vistas, or the fact that I’m probably hormonal, but I found myself getting soggy-faced emotional at the weirdest points. Like when Brokaw reads the line on the Peace Arch “May These Gates Never Be Closed”.
I grew up in Vancouver and now live in Surrey, about 20 minutes from the border. All my life I’ve taken it for granted, this easy access to the country to the south with the great shopping malls and cheap gas. I’ve planted myself in Peace Arch park and painted ‘en plein air’ and watched cars line up for hours to get through on a holiday weekend. I’ve bought cold water and fudgesicles from enterprising young business men while waiting in those same lines in the sweltering heat of summer. For the most part I’ve only had positive experiences at the border crossing, though lately they do seem to be asking more questions than I’m used to, like “Why are you not working on a Wednesday afternoon?” I’m much more comfortable responding with “I’m an artist” and feel less like a fraud now that I’ve practiced it a bit. Maybe the first few times I was afraid he’d ask to see something and then critique it? “What! And you call yourself an artist! Sorry, you can’t come to the States today, you lousy artist, you!”.
*sigh* I understand. Can’t be too careful these days.
We now need a passport or a specially embedded driver’s license to get through customs and into the States. I’m OK with this (as I have nothing to hide) and I’m all about keeping our two countries safe. Years ago when my kids were little my dad took the three of them across the border to go for lunch or something. I had prepared permission slips and made copies of their birth certificates. He later reported back to me that he hadn’t been asked to show any of that stuff. My kids are half Asian and so don’t look like his biological grandchildren at all. While I appreciate the friendly atmosphere at the border, I was really disheartened to find out how easy it could have been to sneak children across. Not so anymore with the new rules.
How did I get on to that? I love the relationship Canada has with the United States and hope it never changes. Watching tributes like the one NBC put together makes me feel proud to be a NORTH AMERICAN. For all our teasing back and forth (I’m looking at you, Stephen Colbert) I feel we’re like family; we may get on each other’s nerves but we need each other and love each other and when the chips are down we’ll be there.
Goddess Tara
Jacquie Janzen Yee
Tracy Westerholm
Bonnie Johnson
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WOW! Thank you for sharing that. It was a beautiful peace, I mean piece.
I started to cry at the part talking about 9/11 and how we housed a bunch of americans that got re-routed. I remember that so clearly.
Canadians took in the americans like they were family and we opened our arms wide open.
What a great video!
That is such a fantastic piece! It also brought a tear to my eye when they talked about our Hi-way of Heros (although I might add we have it here too, not just T.O.), and the communities who helped out on Sept. 11. It’s nice for Americans to get an opportunity to learn more about our country too.
OMG! I’m tearing up just hearing about what made you guys tear up! I loved those parts, too!
OK. Way to get the emotions flowing this morning.
Thank you Jake and thank you Jacquie’s mom!
I agree with you about feeling like we are all family (although some of our “cousins” in the deep south don’t even know we exist – ha ha)
I started welling up at “May these gates never be closed” too. But then you had me laughing out loud with your imagining the border guard not allowing you in because he didn’t like your art. As if!!
Great post Jacquie!
Wow Jake, that was Taraific !!
I loved it all, you made me laugh out loud as well about you not being allowed to cross the boarder because of your art, very funny indeed !
I teared up too! The Olympics might cost us for years to come but the solidarity that it has brought forth to many of us all over the world is worth it ! Uniting the world in one place to watch “games” really says it all doesn’t it! I am so proud to be Canadian and have neighbours who are behind us is a nice feeling. We all know a neighbour can make or break a neighbourhood !
thank you for the crying heads up. i’ll watch it after all my work is done!
Hi Jake,
What a great piece on what makes our relationship with the Americans so unique and wonderful. I may have even had a slight welling-up in the eye at one or two points myself.
I was a little surprised at the spelling error though considering how much emphasis you put on spelling and grammar lol.
Kevin
What!? I researched ‘atcha’! Was it ‘fudgesicle’? I knew it looked wrong! lol! Kevin, are you messing with my head?
Why, I oughtta…!!! : )
Would I mess with you? lol Ya, I probably would, but I’m not. Check the quote from the Peace Arch.
Got it. More of a typo than a spelling mistake but I’ll take the 40 lashes.
I saw this video on TV here in the states before the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and cried. One of my best friends is Canadian and I’ve learned a lot from her about it and am glad to know more. I am an American who suffered through Sept 11 not knowing if anyone in my family living/working in NY were hurt and not knowing if family friends who work alongside my father for the FAA were on any of the planes that crashed. I am one of the many, oh so many, who did not ever realize what Canada did for us on that day and in the days following until I saw this piece. It made me proud of the friendship between our two nations and proud to be learning more and more about Canada because as Americans we actually learn very little in school aside from the fact that Canada is very large and very cold. God Bless America and God Bless Canada! Thank you NBC!!!
Meg you just brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for sharing your story! It’s comforting to know that in a moment of need you have friends who will be there for you regardless of borders. When something as tragic as 911 happens humanity unites and comes together as one! I think the Olympics have brought the world together and reminded all of us that we are all connected.
Thank you so much for your comment, Meg! Lovely to hear your perspective on our relationship and how it’s never to late to learn something new about one another. Let us know when you’re coming to visit and we’ll make sure you have a memorable time!
Thanks so much for posting this video…I saw it at the beginning of NBC’s Olympic coverage, didn’t get to tape it and tried explaining it to many and never found it anywhere again!! I found you by accident trying to find info on the Peace Arch.
Linda