Canadia

I don't know what my fascination is with Canada.

I think it started when I became a Barenaked Ladies fan. The year was 2002. I was graduating from high school, and just then discovering what kind of music I truly enjoyed. (I listened to metal and other assorted hard rock varieties before that.) Not only was it musically awesome, the lyrics were incredibly clever and witty. Never before had I heard music that spoke to me quite like BNL's did, and, needless to say, I became slightly obsessed. The band originated from the Toronto area, and the members are very proud to be Canadian. I thought that was awesome, and that all Canadians were as awesome as BNL. Therefore, I wanted - needed - to visit Toronto sometime. Or just anywhere in Canada. My friends used to joke that they needed to find me a hot Canadian man, back in my single freshman days.

Maybe part of it is the proximity. I can hop in the car right now and be at the border in two hours. Yet, I have never been to Canada. I traveled a bit in high school. I've been to bumfuck middle-of-nowhere rainforesty areas of Costa Rica and Mexico. Areas that the average person isn't privileged enough to go anywhere near. And I've never been to Canada.

I've seen Canada, even. One of my friends is from a border town, and in the times she's brought me up for the weekend, we've driven along one of the main roads through town and she had to say "those trees over there? They're Canadian." But we always had some excuse for not going: the weather sucked, our other plans didn't allow us time, Rainy River is really nothing spectacular. Some of us wanted to plan a few-day trip to Toronto over spring break in like, 2004, that never got off the ground. I've been so close, yet so far.

This year is different. I've grown up, and although I still love the band, I am no longer obsessed. My friends and I either have jobs or a lot more homework (or both). Even so, the bf was insistent that we were all going to road trip up to Winnipeg some weekend before the new year's passport requirement. That also never happened, mostly since no one had time. But this time, I was able to get the weekend off of work, as was the aforementioned friend. Another friend was able to tweak her schedule, and the bf's schedule is open. So, we decided we're going up to Winnipeg on Friday night.

I'm going to Canada. And this time, it's for real. I'm far too excited.