What's any relationship without a few fights, and complaints along the way???

Happy 150th Birthday Canada.

I may bitch and moan about you; the insane taxes I pay, the gridlock, the poor city planning (in all of our biggest cities), your high housing prices, how costly it is to attempt to travel within you to explore your vastness and your beauty. I might even make you think from time to time that I prefer America to you. I figure today, on your birthday it would be a good time to tell you; “it’s not you, it’s me. I’m a fickle, picky, bitch. I love you just the way you are, and I’m proud of you.”

It is amazing to me that our country is so young. I feel that in such a short amount of time we’ve accomplished so much. In many ways, with less years behind us, somehow we manage to be “ahead” in so many significant ways. For starters in our freedoms and liberties for all. We’re light years ahead of countries that are significantly older than us.

Is it because we’re younger so we have a more modern outlook to how life should be lived. We’re not stuck back in barbaric ideologies? Is it because we’re the younger sibling who has always had to find a way to stand out; be our “own person” as it were, out of the shadow of our older wiser siblings?

No matter the reasons, and no matter our flaws, of which as a country and a people we still have many. I’m incredibly proud of the way my country has grown up. I’m honored to be a part of this incredible nation where people of all nationalities were out in full force walking through Toronto today in 150th Canada Day t shirts, hats, and jackets. All of it. Canadians are not one skin tone. Canadians are not only one way in love, everybody who is Canadian/who immigrates here is free to love who they love, regardless of gender or race. Canadians are welcoming and helpful. When the chips are down we will open our doors and our borders to you without question. 911 comes to mind, along with the recent influx of refugees crossing our borders on foot to escape Trump’s impending travel ban.

We may not be many, but we are mighty.

We may not be loud, brash, or aggressive (unless we’re driving or trying to get on the subway), but we get the job done.

Other countries might not fear us, but they definitely respect us.

We may only be 150 years young, but I’d say we’re off to an incredible start. Here’s to 150 more. May our leaders and our people continue to honor this abundant land we’ve been blessed with.

May we remember where we came from, and why we’re here and always love one another in all our glorious shapes, colors, sizes and genders from now until forever.

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.