Chapter 11

Hello Everyone,

The time of my last writing was at the beginning of the Corona Virus Pandemic. Now it is presumably quieting down, and the lockdown is slowly being lifted. How are things here in Canada you might be asking? Life continues along, and we are all emerging from the inside. Probably, we resemble animals coming out of hibernation. Summer is upon us and we sure are happy to be breathing in the fresh air once again.

So many things have changed, life is different than what we knew before. We wear masks now just like everyone has always done in Japan, whenever we ride public transportation or go into stores. Social distancing continues when out in public. Though some people are already forgetting the rules to do so at times. Shopping is not really any fun in post COVID-19 times. It's slow, it's tedious, and it's without joy. So many of us have resorted to on-line shopping for convenience, safety, and comfort. Forget about finding solace and camaraderie amongst friends, at least not in the traditional sense, face to face, and in person. We still cannot attend a professional sporting event mostly because there are none taking place, not yet. The shopping malls haven't opened yet in the Toronto area, but in regional settings they have as of this week. Swimming is safe while one is in the pool, but be aware of the lurking germs as you frequent the change areas and the pool deck and washrooms. School attendance, that is an archaic idea. The students have been out of school since March, and our academic year in Canada has just come to an end in June. The kids are free until September now, to add to the already past three months of freedom. Most of them would probably prefer going to school rather than continue on with their self-admitted feelings of boredom. Life has changed for better or for worse, depending on your perspective. Oh Corona, what have you done to us?

The good news is that we can now extend our social circle to ten people, and we can hug one another if we stay true and loyal to only those ten others. It is kind of like a marriage, remain loyal, albeit with ten others, not only one. Finally, we can meet friends or family for drinks, dinner, or laughter, so long as we are sitting on an outdoor patio in the fresh air. We are surviving this pandemic, and coming out the other end. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, Yes!

Now onto some seasonal news, Summer is just beginning. June is the perfect month in Canada. Everything is green, lush, and growing. The weather is excellent with temperatures in the twenties and as high as in the low thirties. We don't call it the season for weddings, becoming a June Bride, for nothing. It has to be a small wedding these days though. Flowering plants and trees are everywhere displaying a vast array of colours and beauty. Out on a hike last week I passed by some lilac trees, the sweet scent filled the air all around. I have missed that smell for a long time. Cottage life is beginning, and those lucky enough to have one on a lake or a bay or a river have driven on a one-way trip, never to return to the city. Not exactly true but that is how they must feel after three months locked inside their principle residence. Summer is the season that most Canadians long for since we have such a long winter. T-shirts, shorts, sundresses, and sandals, here we come.

I have gotten out and about whenever the opportunity avails itself. One day a long walk to the lakeshore for the sunrise was on the agenda. Arising at 3:30 a.m. to start our walk, make coffee for the journey on foot, and out the door we went. The first ten kilometres to the lake were filled with conversation, adventure, and appreciation for the new day. Upon reaching the shores of Lake Ontario, we were bombarded with mosquitoes! I have never seen so many at any one time. We were covered with the nasty bug, but thankfully we were also covered with clothing. So, except for our faces, they could not leave their mark on us with a signature bite. Quickly we abandoned our idea of experiencing the beautiful sunrise. We watched the glorious ball of fire rise for only a fleeting moment, snapped our pictures, and left, scurrying from the pesky insects. One block away from the water, and we had left them all behind. Strange as it was, I suppose the hot humid day over the lake waters was responsible for the deluge of bugs! We slowly walked home with less energy as the walk to the lake. One foot in front of the other for the last of the twenty kilometres, was all we focused on until we turned the doorknob of home, tired and sore. We had done it! Watched a sunrise which is something we love to do whenever possible.

Another outing which consisted of nature extraordinaire. was accomplished by an hour's drive northwest of the city. Though the drive was freeing in and of itself, the destination was scenic for sure. The Forks of The Credit River is a provincial park, now open for business once again. Though a pandemic we are still in, there were a few hundred people there, all escaping the confines of their homes on a gorgeous day. We practiced social distancing while walking along, some did not do it so well it seemed. Rachel and I hiked for two hours, up and down and over the terrain. To our delight we saw two waterfalls, many lilac trees, and no bugs! Washrooms were not open yet due to the Corona Virus, so we couldn't stay for the whole day, but a half day brought great appreciation and satisfaction with nature just beyond the city. The feeling was similar to escaping prison perhaps where we could be free to roam and soak up the divine sunshine, if even for a short time. We have been under House Arrest for far too many weeks.

Canada Day, July the first is just around the corner. Want some facts about Canada? She was born in 1867, which makes her 153 years old on this next birthday. We have the world's longest coastline with 243,000 kilometres of it. If you want to understand that number thoroughly, think about walking 20 km a day of that very coastline and it would take you 33 years to stroll Canada's shorelines. We have millions of lakes here, to the tune of more lakes than all of the rest of the world's lakes combined. The oldest known rocks in the world, known as the Canadian Shield are found here. How does a 4.28-billion-year-old rock sound to you, discovered in 2001? Montreal is the second largest French speaking city after Paris. We are especially known for hockey, maple syrup, and brutally cold winters. Our nickname is the Great White North for three reasons. Great, because we are the second biggest country in the world, only behind Russia in size. White, because it is covered in the white stuff for five or six months of the year. Finally, North is simple, Canada is found north of the U.S., and so we are America's neighbour to the north. We are a peaceful nation with Toronto rivalling London as the most multicultural city in the world. Half of its population was born outside of Canada. On any given day one could walk through the city and hear a whole host of world languages. Go ahead and try to count them out on your stroll. Maybe you can get to 150 different languages.

Having spoken about Canada's beauty, and the summer season, as well as Canada Day, have I instilled in you a passion to come visit? As soon as we officially surpass this pandemic, please come and see what the Great White North can offer you. I will be here to greet you and show you around the GTA, Greater Toronto Area. We can surely go to Niagara Falls, smaller towns, and picturesque villages, all offering up a variety of joys and adventures. Not yet have we opened up the borders, nor can you land in Canada without self-isolating for a period of time, but the day of freedom is coming. Just be patient. Here's to a summer time of excitement and activity.

Cheers, Love Rosemary🌹