The Freedom of Being Canadian

Happy Birthday Canada!

This was the best Canada Day I've ever had. It's unfortunate that it had to be on a Thursday, but still, I welcomed the day off.

After clubbing last night, I invited FoxyLady to sleep over at my folks' house (in the spare bedroom). She was too tired to make the drive home, and we all know how I've learned my lesson about driving while fatigued. I figured the safety concerns outweighed any familial stress I would incur.

So this morning, I had the pleasure of letting her sleep in and make her breakfast. It was quite the moment as my folks came into the kitchen and saw me standing with her, in our pajamas, making eggs and sausages. I re-introduced them to FoxyLady and invited them to join us. My parents grimly refused and then went on their merry way gardening in the backyard. She and I just shrugged it off and had our meal together knowing that we'd have many more obstacles to endure.

My father returned for a glass of water, and then true to form, chatted her up. (I get my social nature from my father.) It was nice seeing him make the effort. It was almost normal. He seemed impressed that she spoke Tagalog and was doing the dishes. I subconsciously made the observation that she was being the daughter he wished he had, dutiful and in touch with her heritage. Score points for FoxyLady.

My mother later walked into the kitchen. She looked like she was on a mission, and seconds later I realized, she was. She marched right up to FoxyLady and grilled her. Asked her for her name, age, occupation, background, religion, and serial number. Well, not serial number, but you catch my drift. After she was satisfied with the responses she then gave her a clear message.

Mom: You are welcome in this house as Reza's friend. I will not tolerate inappropriate behaviour in my home, do you understand?

It was said rather menacingly, as every parental threat usually sounds. We both agreed to those terms, since I do respect that my parents have a right to dictate what goes on in their home. It does make me long for the day when my financial woes lessen, and I have my own place. In the meantime, I figured it was a small win. It's just going to take some time. Something has gotta give eventually right?

Anyhow, after breakfast, FoxyLady and I hung out at her house for a little while, and then she drove me to Rouge Beach Park. It was a rather beautiful day, just lying on the white sand beach with my best girl, watching families play together, and the Pickering Nuclear Power Plant just to the left of us. I may have tanned in a way that I'm not overtly aware of! Aside from the potential of discovering mutated three-eyed fish, I had a wonderful time. De-stressing is good!

As evening fell, we drove to Goldhawk Park to get a view of nearby Milliken Park's fireworks display. It was lovely. So lovely that I forgot to take photographs.

I was born and raised here in Canada so I often take for granted just how fortunate we are as Canadians. For FoxyLady, she spent the first part of her life in the Philippines, so being Canadian to her means something a little different.

As the sky was lit in an array of colour, FoxyLady turned and said to me: "Isn't Canada great? We're lucky for so many reasons: the freedom of self-expression, the ability for gays to get married, our multiculturalism, our health care system... but personally, I'm lucky and thankful... because this country gave me you."

Sigh.

You can either choose to sigh wistfully with me, or puke at your own discretion.