When we crossed the border into this foreign land, the kids asked if there were any songs about Canada. Emily burst into a rousing two lines of O Canada, after which she mumbled a bit and asked if I knew any of the rest. All I could think of was the Bob and Doug
Christmas song, again just the first two lines. Actually, I suggested this but she didn’t think it appropriate.
It’s been a crazy few weeks. We’re all grateful, I think, for the end, if teary. We had lots of goodbyes, even having about ten people over last night. I stayed up until 2, and then Em and I got up this morning and just stepped on the treadmill already in motion. We didn’t stop moving until we got in the car at 5pm and headed west. The kids promptly fell asleep.
After dinner, they perked up. We got to the hotel and walked down to the falls, lit in the evening, throngs crowding against the railing and wandering around the promenade. We were here when the kids were six and three. I talked with Izzy about how it’s an odd place, constructed because of the waterfall, but filled with haunted houses, Ripley’s and Guiness Book of Records shows, Cuban cigars, and chain restaurants. I think he understood.
Em’s crashing and it’s time to finish Chapter Twenty-Seven of The Goblet of Fire. I got through about six pages last night.
June 30th, 2012 at 5:34 am If you were our age, you would have immediately come up with Andy Williams’ Canadian Sunset. xoxo
June 30th, 2012 at 8:05 am Stan Rogers, my friend, Stan Rogers - folkie extraordinaire. I’m fond of “Witch of the Westmereland,” but that’s really full of warlocks and magic potions type stuff. “Field Behind the Plow” is good about the Prairies, and will probably bore the children. Lots of good songs about the Maritimes, though. “Barrett’s Privateers” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIwzRkjn86w) is good, but with cursing. “Four Strong Winds” is also about the Prairies. Maybe “The Hockey Song” by Stompin’ Tom Conners? Appreciate the updates. db
June 30th, 2012 at 5:14 pm We love Stan Rogers, though I don’t know a couple of the songs you cite. Barrett’s Privateers is a classic. We like Northwest Passage and the Mary Ellen Carter (or something like that) too. But we’ve left Canada behind. Now we’re in Michigan: Iggy Pop and the MC5, of course!