Citizenship

After waiting since 1959, I finally take my oath of ctizenship in 2006. Why the long wait? Well, since the age of 9 have always thought of myself as a Swede living in Canada. I wasn't willing to take an oath to say this wasn't so. But, over the years (many!) it gradually began to dawn on me that I had become a "Canadian". Regardless of where I was born, Canada was the country whose language I spoke, whose values I held, whose history and current affairs I knew, whose fate I cared more about than any other country in the world. It had become time to affirm these facts. So, when I finally took my oath, it was not simply a gesture to obtain the right to vote; it was a confirmation of facts I had been denying. It was time to abandon the idea that living in Canada was simply some kind of extended visit. I wasn't ever going to go "home" ; I am living in my "home".

Grano

 

Grano I

I've had an odd relationship with restaurants. I've spent years reading reviews of the various wonderful places in Toronto; I've done this to the point where I have a pretty good idea of who is cooking where. The trouble with exploring these places, at first, was quite simple - they were too expensive. Then, when I decided that a once-in-a-while splurge was OK, I got hit with something quite unexpected - panic attacks. These are debilitating episodes that take the fun out of everything, especially being in any formal setting where you "cannot escape". Well, this began in 1986, when treatment was in its infancy. Now I am able to function, but not able to forget.
So, now, 20 years later, I can write about a restaurant called Grano. It is a place highly recommended by the assistant property manager in our building. It's chief feature is rustic Italian cuisine and a casual atmosphere. Still, it is no "ordinary" place. On my second visit, I was stunned to see our former Governor General and her husband walk in. It is a place of good food and culture; best of all, it doesn't scare me!