I am so incredibly excited to update the BLOG today! Wow… So, this past Wednesday (the day prior to the U.S. Thanksgiving), I was sworn in as an American Citizen. This was an emotional end to a nine year journey. It began with the U.S. National Anthem, (which I know by-heart from every hockey game I ever attended – Thank you Canada!), next with the U.S. Oath, then finally the Pledge of Allegiance. I was tested, interviewed and finally sworn in, all in one day. It was unbelievable. Finally, the U.S. Government ran efficiently.

I cannot really believe it. I found myself tearing up as it was a very emotional ceremony. I have been here for nine years. I have paid taxes, invested in the Social Security Plan, bought many houses, and now — I can vote. Rena and her family have instilled in me a great sense of National pride. I love being in a devout Republican family.

I have to admit, it was also a little difficult. Initially I felt like I was betraying my home. But I was quickly able to reconcile my feelings. I love both Canada and the U.S. But the U.S. is now my home.

Many things in life begin like my immigration to the United States.

“The Mississippi’s mighty,
but it starts in Minnesota
at a place that you could walk across with five steps down
and I guess that’s how you started
like a pinprick to my heart
but at this point you rush right through me and I start to drown…”
Ghost, Indigo Girls

I moved here thinking it would be a transition, and only for a short time. Little did I know. The years prior to my migration to Washington D.C were turbulent, and filled with anxiety. It felt like I was moving every two years, town-to-town, running… always running.

Now I am home, and I am happy…

The Founding Fathers deserve a lot of credit. They have my thanks on this very special Thanksgiving weekend. Count your many blessings; name them one – by – one… Count your many blessing see what God has done.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 28th, 2005 at 4:00 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.