Fair play: Scrabble, samaras, sovereignty

Sandy and I met for a game of Scrabble at her apartment. You'd like Sandy; she's funny, whip-smart and makes an irresistible blueberry teabread. She twins a vast vocabulary with the concentration of a brain surgeon. I, however, might settle for a seven-point word just to move the game along, and chat while studying the board. 

Last week, Sandy played a word on a triple word square and then said, "Oh, wait, I can make a better one!", and began to lift her tiles.

I had already accepted za (approved by the official Scrabble Dictionary, refers to pizza), but when she scooped up her tiles, I protested, "No. Tiles play, tiles lay." "Well you are strict!" she groused, settling for her 21-pointer. Her attempt was driven by competitive zeal, the kind that looks for any edge. But I didn't regret my challenge; there have to be boundaries, or we have szrygist as a word, and where does it end? 

Sandy's attempt reminded me of current world events. Since his inauguration, the USA's President has stated that Canada should become the 51st State, and concurrently initiated a trade war because Canada allegedly fails to stem the smuggling of large quantities of fentanyl into the US; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police refute the level of activity. (Brief about actual trade balance here.)

Sandy dropped the humbug and still kicked my ass; she will always be the mightier player. So it is for Canadians, whose primary trade partner is a mighty player. But there the metaphor wavers; I trust Sandy to revert to the rules, because we have a relationship we value—along with the teabread.

Until this trade war ends, the Passage will pause the display of American-made goods in its windows. Because the President threatens to extend his tariffs to EU countries as well, spurring retaliation, those readers may also curb their purchases of imports. I've already seen some American vendors offer 25% off, to mitigate the surtax for the time being.

Regarding annexation, Canadians are overwhelmingly opposed. Of course there's a t-shirt for that sentiment; read as "Cross Canada", it's a discreet message of unity:

Red Canoe women's t-shirt, made in Canada

A blunter message from this unisex version: 

Photo: BlinkTwiceShirts, Canada

Sowing seeds

Though cheeky tees convey conviction, Canadians must now consider what we do want for our future, not solely what we don't.  

The maple leaf is the iconic Canadian symbol, but now I think of the tree's seed. The botanical term is samara; popular terms include helicopter, whirligig, Spinning Jenny, and key. It flies from the humble but hardy maple, whirling in a vortex, travelling much farther than a straight-down plummet to find new ground in which to flourish. 

Canadians have always been 'travellers'; we have already begun to forge new alliances abroad. Closer to home, we will address the North American trade bloc, and pull up our hockey socks in areas of global security and infrastructure.

The samara is a symbol of possibility. Femme Mechanique, a favourite local jeweller, makes an especially graceful double samara; shown, the semi-oxidized bronze version. Price, $CDN 76. Includes silver chain.

Photo: Femme Mechanique

Both Sandy and I would be happy if this President and his staff's usage of the "51st State" term turns out to one of those April Fools' pranks that fizzles (27 points!) tomorrow.