happy canada day & happy birthday gramma stella

Well...there haven't been any fireworks or frosty Molson's Canadians yet. Hope springs eternal that some family member has something headed to us via Fed Ex. A Mountie with a singing telegram? A kilo of fresh Ontario strawberries? Uh, some jerk pork or at the very least some Armenian pickles (nudge, nudge, Dad)? The only Canadian stuff in my day thus far has been: me. Phet. Ji Hong. And Teacher Marc, who mentioned something about having once owned a stuffed beaver. Slim pickings to say the least.

It's July 1st, and I am officially ready to be BACK HOME where the weather must finally be good. I'm usually fine about living outside of Canada, but there are of course times when I wish I could be at home even just for a weekend to hang out with the family. It's not bad. We're busy; work's good; no major problems on the horizon. But some days I want to be able to have my Dad cook me dinner, have my Mum shower me and Ji with presents, and have my sister to harass talk to. Or to be down at Phet's aunts' place where I can stuff myself silly and watch Chinavision while they fling Ji around upstairs and put perfume and powder on him and make sure that he finishes every last bit of his winter melon soup. Hurry up, July, so that we can come home for our holidays! [Toronto-1-July-2005]