This has been a most interesting spring. If I could sing I'd be doing a rousing chorus of Johnny Cash's "I Been Everywhere."
Over a two-week course, this reluctant flyer has spent a total of 16 hours in the air winging my way across North America.
The sojourn started out on a positive note when I went to Okanagan Falls to wish B.C.'s cutest kid a happy fourth birthday. And for other grandparents who might try to argue the cuteness factor - don't bother, he wins hands down.
After that, it was off to Las Vegas, or Lost Wages, as it's more truthfully known. Now I realize there might be many who would question the moral value of such a trip. But when all you want to do is laze by the pool, check out the neon lights (please don't lecture me on carbon footprints - I promise to stay put until Christmas and the lights are on anyway) and maybe, just maybe win a couple of bucks, sunny Nevada fits the bill. Well, the best part was the time spent at the pool; there really is a sun out there. We just have to be patient.
My final trip was an inspiration. I went to Ottawa. And while the sun was even less evident there than on the Sunshine Coast, I still left with a case of the warm fuzzies.
My reason for going was to witness the Senate Committee hearing on Bill C-37, the amendment to Canada's Citizenship Act - a bill that was long overdue. It was quite something to watch the proceedings.
For several months now I've been covering the story of the Lost Canadians and Gibsons' Don Chapman's quest to have his citizenship restored. Over the years Chapman has become an authority on the citizenship act. He has testified before Parliamentary and Senate committees many times in the past. And I suspect the passion with which he argued for an immediate adoption of the Bill helped to convince the senators to do so.
It was also an eye-opener that evening when Member of Parliament Andrew Telegdi hosted several of us in the Private Members dining room, and everywhere Don went the movers and shakers stopped to congratulate him and ask for his help in drafting a new Canadian Citizenship Act.
I also found it interesting that aside from one Canwest journalist, none of the major media were present at a hearing that could change citizenship for thousands of people. Indeed, Don seems to be somewhat of a pariah among some of the media with his outspoken ways.
But not many people have ever changed history by taking a back seat and keeping their mouth shut, and he certainly won't be the first. All it usually takes is for one person to listen, and in this case, our former MP John Reynolds took an interest and helped the cause reach the right ears.
I congratulate Don for staying the course. As he said last week, it ceased to be about him many years ago.
And finally, to cap off this whirlwind two weeks - a new Canadian citizen, Samuel Jeffrey Allan, now the cutest boy grandson in Alberta.
