Winter Found

I found my winter: it's in Canada.

They commandeered our ice and snow to use in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies. As a native of the Upper Midwest and a stalwart fan of cold seasons, the icy theme of this year's Games felt homey: bright white stars in a long, cold night; sparkling snow flurries; and, of course, the flaming ice crystal that is the cauldron of the Olympic Flame.

Other aspects more closely reflected my newest adoptive home. Vancouver is only about three and a half hours from Port Orchard (two and a half from Seattle). What we call the "Northwest" is only a thin border away from southwest Canada. We share a time zone and weather patterns. (It rained all day, here and there.) We both enjoy giant trees, Indian motifs, a mountainous horizon; we have in common an awe of orcas and a fondness for salmon. (Port Orchard even has its very own totem pole, on the waterfront next to the public library. And on every Puget Sound ferryboat are posters explaining how closely boaters are allowed to approach the orcas.)

And yet that thin border has some effect. I wanted to apply for Canadian citizenship by the time the poet described his homeland as the place whose people are renowned for their pleases and thank yous.

But before the echoes of the poet's words settled, NBC cut to a commercial for Marriage Ref—Welcome back to the U.S., where we enjoy watching celebrities make fun of peoples' marriages. So much for please and thank you.