a border crossing experiment...

We are conducting a quick experiment that involves crossing the border into Canada by car. When the current regime came into power - and began their cruel and random attacks on people of color who MAY be undocumented - we were freaked out. We have some deep friendships in Canada. We love the groove and feel of both Montreal and Ottawa. I have long participated in the L'Arche Community. And both Di and I regularly slip away to the Eastern Townships while the rest of the US celebrates Thanksgiving and Black Friday. But the capricious way ICE has been working - and their illegal incarceration of innocent people - was unnerving. That is, of course, exactly what the architects of this hatred wanted - and I must confess to being cowed. Not internally, where we have a network of allies and friends, but externally. And my fear was heightened when beloved Canadian colleagues called off a visit to our home because they did not want to be subject to ICE violence. 

So, we regrouped and spent a late spring retreat in Northern Maine with a few trips to groovy Portland. And our wider family postponed a birthday trip to Montreal for our granddaughter, Anna, who loves this city, too. We will meet at our home, rejoice in her 8 years among us, and savor the safety and beauty of our garden. We mustered a bit of courage after some in our family had no problems with their trip to Nova Scotia. So, in anticipation of Anna's next birthday, we chose to find out for ourselves. And, I am delighted to report that entering Canada was smooth and friendly. During the first Trump administration, I was hassled by some surly Canadian border patrol types at an out-of-the-way crossing late at night. In a quid pro quo, they confiscated my cell phone and laptop, searched my rental car vigorously, and finally concluded that my trip to a Franciscan retreat house during Holy Week was neither a threat to national security nor anything more nefarious. (NOTE: to this day, however, I refuse to use that port of entry!) I suspect that the real test will be coming home, which is what we've chosen to explore.

I will keep you posted on whatever shakes out. I want to get back to visiting my L'Arche friends. I want to retreat from American avarice and rest over Thanksgiving in anticipation of a holy Advent. And I want to plan a glorious birthday for our precious granddaughter. More as it unfolds...