Leigh Cross-1979
I was born an American, but I got over it. In 1967, the Viet Nam war was too much for a Korean war veteran, and I decided to emigrate. I had several countries in mind but visited Canada first. I crossed the border at sundown and watched the lowering of the new Canadian flag. To understand my elation, you would have to participate in an American, corpse-de-ballet, flag-lowering grovel, complete with saluting, bugle calls, triangular folding, glycerin tears and synthetic-rubber reverence. But that Canada Customs agent, with his hat on his head and his cigar jutting from his mouth like the proud bowsprit of a Grand Banks schooner, reefed the flag off the halyards, sauntered across the lawn dragging it behind him, balled it up and stuffed it into the trunk of his car on top of his spare tire, tool boxes and hockey armor.
“By God!” I exclaimed. “This country is for me!” so I emigrated and became a Canadian citizen as soon as I could.
Oh, please! Can’t we keep this? Can’t we please ball up all the empty, chauvinistic, maudlin, anthem-singing, flag-worshipping quasi-patriotism and stuff it south of the border where it belongs?
Vancouver, March 20, 1998
Edit on comment: In tow
And was signed with thank yous ?? not ?’s. ????????????
Leigh was, no doubt, a classic, a one-of-a-kind, a unique, big hearted and irresistible kind of guy.
Met him one winter when he showed up at our cabin, knowing our pipes must be frozen and said, “just thought I’d come over and offer a hand”
Inn tow was Lumpkin, whom we know as Gabe. It was the start of a long association and respect for this family. Thank you Bob for bringing back all those memories. It is a gift to us all. ????
That so sounds like Leigh and his over-the-top rhetoric
Leigh wrote the whole thing. Just found it..
Good photo of Lea wagging his finger. Did he say that last part or did you Bob…good advice whoever said it!