MY SON'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT

It was that time again. For other holidays I am very flexible – but NEVER December 25th. Christmas supper was held at my home and my children knew, from experience, that absence was not an option, except, maybe, if that option was death. Don’t even dare plan on doing anything else, anywhere else. Still, I figured that a reminder wouldn’t hurt. It must have been intuition.

“Ah no, Mom,” answered my oldest son. “What Christmas? I’m just staying in the city and renting a movie or something. I don’t even want to think about Christmas. Forget me this year.” Whoa!! This was my son talking – the one who revelled in family get-togethers even more than I did. The tone of voice echoed his words. He was seriously depressed.

“What?!! No, no, no.” I replied. “What in hell is this about? What’s going on?”

He told me what I should have known. Yoshiko would not be here, and they had both so looked forward to spending their first Christmas together. As much as he loved his family, it would not be Christmas without her. He would only dampen the spirit for the rest of us.

Two months before, his Japanese fiancé had been refused entry to Canada when her flight had landed in Montreal. There was no valid reason given by airport customs. More than likely she had been greeted by an official who was having a bad day. The girl was well educated, had a healthy bank account and no police record, and, although not fluent, could speak the two official languages of this country. My son and I had stood in the arrival area waiting for hours, and hours…. and agonizing hours. I watched my son’s face as his worry turned to panic, and realized to what extent he loved this girl. Her arrival was at 18:30, and at 1:30 AM, the surly custom official finally allowed her to call us on my cellular. She was to depart, the same night, on the first flight out of Canada. She had been coming here too often, he told her. Before returning, she needed Canadian authorisation, and this she must apply for from her own country. It meant, at best, a year of paperwork before she could come back.

I hung up the phone with an ache in my heart. My child was hurting. My ache soon became a mother’s anger. This was NOT acceptable! Anger turned into determination. Damn it! This was Canada!! The land lauded as glorious and free! There had to be something that could be done? I mean – Japanese citizens were not typically singled out as terrorists, were they?

A co-worker of mine had experienced immigration problems with his relatives relocating from Ireland, and gave me the name of a good (but expensive!!!) immigration lawyer. I contacted my future daughter-in-law in Japan by e-mail, asking her to be specific about what she had been told, and that she keep our conversations secret. The last thing I wanted was for my son to have his hopes dashed again! Within the next week, the lawyer had advised both myself and Yoshiko what needed to be written, said, mailed, and faxed to further our cause. Together we set it up. My other two children were sworn to secrecy as well. That left my son’s boss.

Yoshiko, that beautiful, eternally optimistic girl had booked her flight for December 18th, and I knew my son’s office party was the night following her arrival. Hearing what I had to say, and being the epitome of an ‘Italian’ romantic, the boss not only told me he would obtain the second party admittance ticket, but also agreed to be silent. He knew, as well as anyone, how sad my son was, what it would do to him to be disappointed a second time. My son had refused to go to the office party until his co-workers, hearing that he had decided not to attend, got together and purchased the ticket for him, practically forcing his hand. His boss kept repeating to me into the phone “This is so cool! This is so nice! It HAS to work!” His voice was full of emotion.

The day arrived. That morning, wanting to cover all the bases, worried about another entry refusal by customs, I placed a call to the lawyer’s cell phone, waking him up in Copenhagen, where it was 4:30 AM (to be fair, I didn’t know he was there – but probably would have called anyway). He was quite gracious, in spite of the hour – assuring me that all should go well, but that he would talk to an agent if need be – he would leave his cell open -to just contact him at any time. I was beginning to think that the man was worth his high retainer fee.

My son is not the best of housekeepers at any time, and his depression had only made matters worse. Not wanting Yoshiko to arrive in such a mess, my friend and my mom (who was still alive at the time) volunteered to help me clean his apartment before going to the airport. I had warned my son that his grandmother be at his place when he arrived from work, the excuse being that she had come into the city with me for a doctor’s appointment, but I had to meet an important client late the same afternoon, so would drop her off at his home instead of having her wait in the car. So far, so good.

My daughter and my friend joined me at the arrival gate. I can’t begin to explain what I felt as we waited there. Not able to sit when I’m agitated, I must have walked a couple of miles in that one circle. When people around us began to look at me apprehensively, my daughter explained to them what was happening. Later, many of them, already having collected their expected party, came over to wish us luck as they went on their way. Two hours had passed since the flight had put down, but there was still no sign of Yoshiko. Despair filled my heart. Not this again! My daughter had gone to see if she could get any information, and I turned quickly to look at her when she called my name. Her eyes were full of tears.

To be continued.....

Luv From the Bush in Quebec

ALL ABOUT NOTHING

This whole month feels like tax-time. I seem to be running when I hit the floor in the morning, my brain still pedaling when I finally get to bed at night. It’s a never ending game of ‘catching-up’. Granted, winter is busier on the home front. There’s wood to bring in, ashes to take out, more cleaning with the doggies tracking in muck, etc., etc. One also has to consider the hours lost by sitting in traffic on the journey back & forth to the office. Then again, there are the three new companies, which means more employees, which, in turn, brings more action. Mind you, I’m not complaining. We see enough people each day desperate for a job, and I realize how lucky I am to be working. Probably much of it has to do with age. I used to be able to handle full days, then go out and dance my tail off in the evening. Not anymore. My idea of a good time now is sitting by the fire, glass of wine in hand, doggies at my feet – or stretching out in the Jacuzzi. .LOL! My mom would never have believed it!

The Dunany Demons sprinkled a few snowflakes last night on the drive home. It reminded me that it is time for snow-tires. I usually have them installed by October 15th each year. No-one living in my area would try getting through the winter with four-season tires, and that BEFORE the new law made the change an obligation! I hear my friend, Kilroy, is still roaming around on his bicycle. How do you winterize that mode of transportation? LOL.

My son, Jo, is back from hunting empty-handed. His lady, May, is at home on maternity leave now. Bow will be leaving for Florida in a couple of weeks for a golf holiday. Yoshiko is saving her vacation time for her next visit to Japan, so won’t be going with him. And my daughter, Shan, will be heading down to Mexico with some friends in early December. She turns 40 this year, and both her and her best friend, who is the same age, are planning to celebrate their big 4-0’s in the sun together.

I’m going to post this just to let you know we’re still all alive. Other than that, I would scrap it, because reading it over, I find it extremely boring! I had nothing to say, and said that quite well, didn’t I? LOL.

On the road again…off to the city. Take care, everyone – practice your SMILES, and enjoy the frisky weather!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

AUTUMN AND STONE WALLS

That large, yellow orb is showing up later and later each morning. Once it finally does take its rightful place in the sky, it creates a mist over my mountain. The chill in the air sticks around longer; all signs that summer is bidding us farewell, and autumn will soon be painting a splendid picture on which to feast our eyes. And the beat goes on.

My good friend, Kilroy, was wondering in his comment why I would need a stone wall. For those of you who have not yet seen my house, it is situated on top of a hill. In fact, coming up my winding lane in the winter can be quite a challenge. The earth and sand find it much easier to slide down same hill, even more so since we’ve been getting bouts of torrential rains. You know the ones I mean – the drops are huge and fast and furious. The stone wall, besides being attractive, does much to thwart the weather’s effort to sent those numerous (and expensive) loads of earth and gravel to the bottom of the steep incline. Unfortunately, Mr. Heinz the perfectionist, has built it up and taken it apart more than once because a certain stone ‘didn’t look right’, so the area surrounding the house is constantly mucky from the disturbance. It does wonders for the floors, especially with two doggies who DON’T wipe their feet! LOL.

Shan is finally into her new place. I felt so sorry for the previous owner, who was moving out with the help only of a small pickup truck, a car, another lady, and her elderly father. I offered the services of our movers, but she refused. Suzie came down, one of Shan’s friends showed up, and between us all we got the biggest part spic ‘n span and settled in. I don’t envy my daughter who, this morning, will wake up to numerous bags and boxes waiting to be unpacked. It’s a very nice home, with a beautiful, big flower and shrub filled backyard and, much to her dog’s delight, another in ground pool. Just that alone convinced Dixie that this place will be okay, as long as her family was with her.

My son, Bow, started his new job (but with the same company) yesterday and I was anxious to hear if he liked it. He seems to think so, at present anyway, from his comments on Facebook. He was never an avid driver, and this position requires mostly driving. so that worried me. Not mother hen at all, is she?

It’s that time again – shower and rush hour. The students are back to universities and college, a fact clearly demonstrated on the main routes into the city. More traffic, hesitant drivers, and the need for good music to keep down road rage, LOL!

The weather network tells us the sun will be around for the whole week, so who can complain? I’m sending you all a big SMILE, and reminding you that your own is important to whomever you will see today….let it be the first thing you put on each morning! C ya!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.