Thank you! I hope the weather is better elsewhere in this vast country, than it is here. Today it is cool and raining. And Mary's husband wanted to go to the beach. Not so far from here so I doubt it was beach weather for them. We have had rain almost every day for what seems like ages. At Sat. night's church service, the youth choir sang as a closing hymn "Rain Down". So we will blame today on them. Hope it warms up for the 4th for y'all. Theresa

Several years ago we were in Canada arriving July 1st. Got greeted at the border by the nicest people telling us to stick around for free hot dogs and drinks. But we went on and did find a place to stay and an open restruarant BUT every where we went we were invited to picnics, bar b ques etc At that time nothing was open and my sister in law was so upset, because she was a Walmart "junkie" Did not bother me. I just enjoyed being and talking to the people in the parks, etc Great experience.

Best wishes to all of you fellow Canadians on this our hundred and fifty second birthday. As I was sitting here doing some brain activity while feeding my body with lunch ... ... it occurred to me that my grandmother (Dad's side) was born in '62 - so she was five when our nation was born! I think grandpa a couple of years older ... and Mom, being a couple of years younger than Dad, her parents of similar vintage: likely all four under 10 in 1867. Thanks to you neighbours for your good wishes on our birthday. olr joyfuelled

Hoping all you other Canadians are having a fruitful and happy day. My main celebration was hearing a special 2 hour celebration of Gordon Lightfoot's music led by many great entertainers who knew and loved that fine musician and composer in Massey Hall, Toronto, where he had played many times. Many testified to his friendly, humble manner and how much they miss him. It was broadcast on CBC television and radio and I am pretty sure can be available on their apps on demand at cbc.ca, their app for television being "gem" and for radio it's "listen". I am somewhat troubled by the reduction in supplies of professional journalism: the press gallery in our national and provincial capitals used to be vigorous but has shrunk to a shadow of their former sizes as so many newspapers have shrunk or closed, many in small cities and towns, as millions of advertising dollars have migrated to silicon valley. It seems to me that our democracy depends on widespread professionally provided news being available. With so much informatiom available now, much claiming to be real news and true, if you please, that it's getting quite difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. We all need to work on keeping our precious freedom and democracy operating for all our citizens. In a by-election in Toronto the other day ... 44 per cent of eligible voters felt it important enough to vote that they showed up. ole joyful