That’s a considerable chunk of my life spent here as a naturalized citizen. Gotta say baller move on my parents behalf. I have no idea how things would have played out if we had stayed put in England. Same, better or worse? I could never say for certain, but here I met my lovely wife, and now have two funny little children and a dog. I was pretty small when we left everything, and everyone behind to come here in the middle of the night, amongst the largest electrical storm I had ever seen, from out of a 15th story window with no coverings. Our first night was restless, and a real doozy. I have no idea if those two things were a part of the same day, but besides walking into this old green & white burger joint with my mum, those are the only memories I have of the first apartment we lived in upon landing here. We moved a lot. I have a terrible memory, and am bad with dates. It all runs together for me.
Still — Canada, a pretty great country. Could have been someplace in the US, or even farther away into Australia for that matter. But my folks split the difference and here we came. Ontario Canada. It’s a big province, and we moved around inside it a fair bit. Never up north to Thunder Bay or Timmins, however we did criss cross Scarborough, Rouge Hill, Centennial, Guelph, Erin, among other such places. I think that we determined my parents have moved something like 18 or 19 times while living in Canada. Across the country at that! From British Columbia to Ontario, and back — again.
All of us have moved around, far more than many of our lifelong friends whose parents still reside in the homes that they were born into. To have roots that deep in a place feels foreign to me. My kids are the same, all they’ve ever known is this one house. Never needed to change schools, or bedrooms, share a bedroom, undergo construction inside the home while they live there. If we can help it we just might stay in this house until we retire! Imagine that, no need for me to move again! What a blessing. I have a hoard of tote boxes just for such an occasion. Now I’ll save them for my kids going off to college / university / trades school.
Which reminds me I am putting together a spare tool box full of essential items for my oldest because she’ll be out of the house, and off to some type of post secondary education before I know it. A sturdy tool box with a hammer, screw driver set, a pair of pliers, and some hardware for hanging/fastening things. Not a major expense but it should at least be helpful while she is away from home.
Forty years in Canada, which reminds me I need to remember to renew my passport before 2026. So many things to remember! Feel that cool pre-autumn chill in the morning air. Love it!
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