O Canada

After six years of living in the States, I feel pretty American---one who happened to be be born in Canada, sure, but this is where I chose to make my adult home. That being said, every so often things happen, and I realize while you can't go home again, you do take a little part of it with you for the rest of your life.

Recent Ontario (and now British Columbia) legislation regarding non-discriminatory marriage has caused me to choke up with pride in my native land, province, and city. While I gripe about a great deal Canadian, events of the last few weeks have once again proven that, for all their quirks, Canadians by and large are open-minded, gracious, and flexible.

Reading today's column by Deb Price, Washington bureau news editor of the Detroit News, made me teary again, as she spoke of the multitude of Torontonians cheering her wedding last month to her partner of 18 years. The thought of my beloved city stretching its arms to embrace all who came to City Hall...well, I'm about ready to go run up the Maple Leaf outside our house, I tell you what.

Is this going to push forward similar US or state legislation, beyond the recent Supreme Court decision? Hard to say...we're certainly very different countries in some respects. However, I suspect that as more and more Americans keep trekking back and forth across the border, marriage licenses in hand, the winds of change might finally start blowing a little gustier.

Considering that 18 years is three times as long as my husband and I have been together, one certainly hopes so. We were married in Toronto as well, and I have to say, there's no better place for a wedding.

Congratulations to all you newlyweds...and vive la Canada.