Canadian Classics

I heard recently that the Bay may be bought out by the States. How is that possible? The Hudson Bay Company was our original trading post. There's just something "not right" about selling it to the U.S. Granted, I hardly ever shop there anymore. The last time I bought something I had to wait quite a while for service and then the long line up at the till almost made me turn around. Still, I always feel good entering the store. It's Canadian. It feels different than Wal Mart or Sears. It's a little scattered, not too glitzy....it's an understated store....yes, that's Canadian, I guess. Whever I see those stripes on the traditional blanket or on the bag, I feel at home. I shopped there as a child. I remember waiting outside the door on a cold morning waiting for the shipment of Cabbage Patch Dolls. I bought my first purse at the Bay in Yellowknife. It can't be sold off. Maybe the next time I go to the mall, I'll spend some more time at the Old Hudson's Bay Company before it becomes another American enterprise.

Speaking of solid Canadian classics, I watched Mr. Dress Up with Chelsea today. I really love that show. I grew up on it. It was the one show, along with Mr. Rogers and the Friendly Giant that my mother fully endorsed. She was very picky....even Sesame Street was on the fringe for her. At seven years old, it was still my favourite show. Innocently, I chose that as my favourite TV show on a school project in second grade and never heard the end of it from my Battlestar Galactica crazed schoolmates. There was nothing high tech about Ernie Coombs.... nothing flashy. I marvel at the simplicity of it all. Just some dress up clothes, a drawing easel and lots of imagination. Of course, his puppets added a lot to the show too. It was Casey and Finnegan as I grew up. Later it was Chester the Crow and I can't remember the other one's name. I'm so glad CBC still broadcasts it. The set never changed in all those years. Neither did the format of the show. I remember feeling so sad when Mr. Dress Up would weave the good bye into the conversation. He would always say something like....."Casey, before we do that, it's time to say good bye from Casey, Finnegan, __________(insert name of guest) and me, Mr. Dress Up. Just yesterday as we watched I saw Chelsea's face fall when she knew the show was coming to an end. It just felt wholesome....like feeding your kids whole wheat pasta......you just know you're doing the right thing when they're watching a show like that.

I'll be sad if the Bay gets sold off to our southern neighbours, but I'll be sadder the day that Mr. Dress Up goes off the air. That will truly be the end of a Canadian classic.