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Uncle Bud's heartburn ...

Saunders must have peeked at my heartburn list
© Bud Larsen
December 9, 2011
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”
-Victor Borge-
I just knew that sooner or later, someone out there would write an opinion letter to some editor and I would be reduced to mumbling “Gee, I was just about to say that.”

In the December 1 issue of the Herald’s letters to the editor section was a letter written by Mr. Tim Saunders titled: “Canadian’s driving skills not desirable.”

Mr. Saunder's subject was/is very dear to my old heart and was on my list for a future “Heartburn” ramble, but alas; he beat me to the punch … and did a great job of venting his heartburn about the driving habits of our neighbors from up north.

Allow me the pleasure of jumping on Mr. Saunder's bandwagon by adding a few comments in support of his opinion …

We make bi-monthly trips to Creston just to purchase some deli items, as their European-influenced food serves to remind us of the 14 years we spent stationed in Europe. On virtually every trip, I ask my bride of 50 years, “Why is it our Canadian neighbors drive like they’re scared half to death of going just one click over the speed limit, and yet when they are down our way, it is get out of my way?”

I suspect our two cultures took different paths when raising our children. Our Canadian brothers and sisters seem to have been taught to fear, yes fear, their infamous RCMP, whereas we were taught to respect and obey our law enforcement officers. Let’s stay on the culture thing awhile longer …

When is the last time you saw a Canadian licensed vehicle that was a piece of junk on wheels?

You haven’t seen one, have you? And you won’t, either, because the “European Influence” stands out there. Their law enforcement subscribes to the rule that if a vehicle looks bad, then something is bad … it is not properly maintained i.e, brakes, tires, leaks, etc.

I don’t think we in the U.S. can say the same for some of the junk we allow on our roads. Pride of ownership?

We have to give them some credit … but not when it comes to obeying our laws on the road. Mr. Saunder’s opinion letter was right on.

I would suggest that both Sheriff Sprungl and Chief Alonzo invite their counterparts from the north down for a day or two just to patrol both the North and South Hill to witness first-hand the manner in which an unfortunate majority of Canadian drivers speed and past us down here in the U.S. with little to no regard for the other traffic sharing the road.

'Tis the season, and I wish each of you find a partridge in your pear tree.

Santa is watching you ... and he's scared to land up north, thanks to the Canadian drivers.
Uncle Bud
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