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arrogant
July 2008 
not arrogant enough
Posted on Nov 30th, 2007
by 
geognosy
geognosy
Three years ago today Pierre Berton, a Canadian icon, died at the age of 84. Being a Canadian icon means not being very well known outside of Canada. Pierre Berton resisted the status of icon, claiming that there were others more deserving. He also stated that "Canadians aren't arrogant enough."
Pierre Berton's childhood home in Dawson City is now the Berton House Writers' Retreat, where I am typing this blog. So far this winter has been unseasonably warm. The photo is taken from the porch off the kitchen, and shows an icecycle which has broken off the edge of the roof yet remains suspended in the branches. If it was really cold, icecycles would not be forming.
In the upper right corner you can glimpse the cabin across the road where the poet Robert Service lived for a couple of years. Described as "Canada's most famous poet" Robert Service was born in Scotland and only lived a few years in Canada before spending the rest of his life in Europe. Despite the desperate lack of arrogance in this country, we are keen to assert our claim on anyone who ever sets foot here. By this standard, Ernest Hemingway is, yes, one of Canada's better-known writers.
Pierre Berton's childhood home in Dawson City is now the Berton House Writers' Retreat, where I am typing this blog. So far this winter has been unseasonably warm. The photo is taken from the porch off the kitchen, and shows an icecycle which has broken off the edge of the roof yet remains suspended in the branches. If it was really cold, icecycles would not be forming.
In the upper right corner you can glimpse the cabin across the road where the poet Robert Service lived for a couple of years. Described as "Canada's most famous poet" Robert Service was born in Scotland and only lived a few years in Canada before spending the rest of his life in Europe. Despite the desperate lack of arrogance in this country, we are keen to assert our claim on anyone who ever sets foot here. By this standard, Ernest Hemingway is, yes, one of Canada's better-known writers.
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Really neat picture.
I have never been to Canada though I have always idealized it. I've never left the United States actually. I just received my first passport around four months ago since I have a feeling before my life is over, we'll need them to cross even state lines…. But by then, hopefully, I'll have fled to Vancouver or Toronto, where, as far as I can tell, arrogant or not, people remain free.
J'ai besoin de practiquer frances, non?
Winter in Vancouver is something you drive to on the mountains, so I've been enjoying having a little taste of winter right outside the door. People think of the country as being the frozen north, but most of the country shares the same weather as the northern U.S.
I'm sure you'd do well in Canada with just english. Besides, your french is already better than most Canadians, even if you speak francais with a little spanish accent.
Haha! Oops….
Very wonderful! If my old brain serves me correctly, didn't Robert Service write “The Cremation of Sam McGhee” and other delightful poems? I remember when I was back in college it took me forever to find a copy of t hat poem and it was a quirk of reality that I actually found it.
I've been to Canada twice and have thoroughly enjoyed its people and wonderful scenery. The worst part of going to Canada is having to return because I get very frustrated that Americans can't emulate our Canadian neighbours when it comes from living from the sixth chakra.