Here are my friends Anne and Ihor in their Toronto home, which over the years has often been my home as well.  Such kindness coming my way.

Tonight we went for dinner to their favourite spot, a simple little diner called Wally’s.  A few days ago the Prime Minister of Canada (Mark Carney) and the Premier of Ontario (Doug Ford) sat in a corner booth, discussing how they’d combat Trump’s tariffs.  Tonight it was just “little old us” enjoying the smiles and kindness of our two servers – Kat from Poland and Galina from Slovakia.  Everybody helped everybody enjoy life.

As Anne drove us through suburban Toronto, familiar names popped up on signs, as in a long ago dream.  Tim Hortons coffee shops, Mark’s Work Wearhouse clothing stores (now called Mark’s), a Home Depot renovation centre, Petro-Canada gas stations, …  Back home amid the history of me.  But actually my true home is Gent.

Yesterday it was me behind the wheel in my Kia rental car, named “Jed” by me.  I was nervous as I left Budget Car Rental: I hadn’t driven in three years, and the twelve-lane 401 Highway gave me pause, but Jed and I did great.  I had fun being proficient with lane changes, and figuring out where to be when for smooth freeway entrances and exits.  “I’m still a good driver!”

I thought it would be easy to shop for my ten new shirts (to replace my ten falling-apart ones).  Just pick a big mall (Yorkdale) and roam the clothing stores for a couple of hours.  Wrong.  In two hours I’d accumulated two shirts that I liked.  And when I tried them on at home, the sleeves were too long!  As they say in baseball, I was batting zero.

Most of the colours I found were muted and boring.  “We basically serve the corporate community.”

Malls.  Too much light.  Too many huge video displays.  Too few vibrant shirt colours.  I loved that the aisles were jammed with people, but that was about it for satisfaction.  After many more hours, I had four cool shirts in my hands, six ordered online (size 16 neck, 33 sleeve) and twelve black underwear briefs.  Plus a consumer headache.

Thank God that my jetlag has been moderate.  Still lots of sleep asks me to join it.  And tomorrow I’m off to a new locale – Richmond Hill – and friends who call that community home.

Goodnight, dear ones