The Truth About Grandparents

Just returned from a trip to Central Canada and a visit with the grandchildren. Started this blog while enjoying the comfort of Via Rail and sipping a inexpensive glass of red wine. Be aware, my inhibitions had been lowered.

All right, lets get it our there, the unvarnished truth about being a grandparent. Be aware that all grandparents are fibbers. Not liars, that is too harsh a word to describe what grandparents do. Fibbers evokes a kinder gentler portrayal of our deceit when discussing grandchildren with others.



When faced with the obligatory pictures of other grandparents, our vocabulary is suddenly filled with adjectives like beautiful or the 100's of other synonyms. (cute, delightful,  pretty, gorgeous, adorable, handsome, angelic, lovely, etc., etc.)  Antonyms fade to the furthest reaches or our brain never to reach our lips. As grandparents, we believe that unattractive grandchildren do not exist, some are just cuter then others, specifically when they are yours. When shown pictures, we not only see the grandchildren but we also see the faces of grandma and grandpa, beaming with pride at what they have had half a hand in creating. Some would suggest that it is the same look as displayed by new parents but I would say  that those looks are more ones of astonishment mixed with pride and joy over what they have created but at the same time, eliciting similar descriptive commentary used for grandchildren. See adjectives above. Sadly for grandparents, astonishment has long been beaten out of us.



Grandparents are genetically disposed to fibbing and are mandated too believe their grandchildren are the bestest, with all other grandchildren ranked accordingly. As well, we are convinced that they have inherited only our best genes, splicing out all the others. A grandchild's flaws are quickly overlooked or blamed on outside influences  such as their parents. As Gore Vidal said, "Never have children, only grandchildren." 











I have attached the necessary pictures to meet the requirements of the Grandparent Handbook, Section 5, Article 3.8.

Visas:Don't Leave Home Without Them

QUESTION: Are visas an efficient way to control people accessing your country or just a cash grab?







A visa is an official document, usually stamped or glued inside your passport, giving permission from  authorities to enter their country.  A fee may be charged for issuing a visa; these are often also reciprocal, so if country A charges country B's citizens for a visa, country B will often also charge the same amount for country A's visitors. Quite often, the fee will be reciprocal as well, country A charges $50 then country B will charge $50. Canada requires entry visas from 168 countries with 53 countries having visa exemptions

 A quick review of both lists indicate the following. If Canada does not require a visa from a certain country then that country does not require any paperwork for a Canadian traveling into that country. If Canada requires a visa for a country then that county requires either a visa prior to entering the country with the resulting costs or they require a reciprocity fee that is payable in cash, credit card, or by traveller’s cheque prior to clearing immigration at the airport.


Additional review of the Canadian lists clearly show our bias for European, British and Commonwealth countries for visa free entry to Canada. But to be fair the list also includes a number of Asian and African countries. The USA only lists 36 countries that do not require a visa with only six countries not found on or attached to the European continent. Looking at countries  whom seem reliant on tourism,  we mostly find that visas or reciprocity fees can be purchased or paid for upon arrival to the country, no trips to an embassy required.  

Based on the above, I would put forward the answer that visas are both a cash grab and a method of control. As well, I would like to add reciprocity as another reason. Do unto others as they do unto you. Our experiences with the staff who man these stations and collect your money has for the most part, never been a positive experience. Perhaps they attend the same schools as the customs officials.

As we stood in the line at the embassy waiting to hand over cash for a visa to a country who shall remain nameless (wink, wink, nudge, nudge),  I asked myself this question, "Who wouldn't want a Canadian tourist visiting their country and why are they making it so difficult ?"  Alas, the question went unanswered. Probably better that way. I suspect the difficulty is reciprocal.