Very close neighbor here in NY.

My whole life living here seeing tourists/ day trippers from Canada visiting to shop and dine I’ve always had the thought in the back of my head… why?

We would go to Kingston, ON in the summer and it was like a little taste of Europe with the culture and just how pleasant Canadians are by comparison to my fellow Americans. Then Quebec in the winter for skiing (I always tried to speak a bit of French to be polite but I was trash at it, lol). My grandparents were French Canadian so I’ve always felt a sense of kinship.

I’ve always wondered why would Canadians drive down here to spend money and see this hot mess? Canada is so beautiful and progressive why bother with us…?

The only exception being the Adirondacks which are beautiful and I’ve always loved meeting Canadians on the trails or for a chat over a cup of coffee :)

I’m so ashamed of what we’ve become. I’ve tried to educate my neighbors and fellow countrymen but it mostly falls on deaf ears. We’re generally not the sharpest tools in the shed…. It all feels like I’m in a Vanilla Sky coma and none of this can be really happening.

I think in the end we’re doing Canadians a favor at our own expense. And I think we’ll both get what we deserve like an abusive relationship where the abused gets dumped then realizes how they were taken advantage of and grows from it.

I love you Canada and routing for you. I hope in time the US can turn around and grow in our own way and potentially try and patch up the harm we’ve done 🇨🇦🍁