Border Skirmish

Apparently, I'm addicted to these provocative titles. ;>

By way of explanation, my "corner" of the globe is tucked between New Brunswick and Quebec, Canada. We are actually much closer to Quebec, but visit New Brunswick more often since that is where the family cottage is located. Since September 11, 2001, crossing the border has, understandably, become a little more complicated.

It is because of these complications that my sister became a dual citizen. (Sis was able to do this because our mother lived and died a Canadian.) There was a brief window of time to take advantage of that opportunity a few years ago. (It may have already ended.) Anyway, she did take advantage of the chance; I didn't. Sis believed that border crossings would become less of a hassle if she had a ticket to ride in either direction, so to speak. She also has a passport, of course. I don't. I need either a passport or at least the lesser version that allows me to go to Canada or Mexico so I can visit Canada once again. 

Sis and my son received the cottage as an inheritance. Sis is setting about to make it an attractive and comfortable place to vacation whether for a few days, a week or even a month. It's why we were making new curtains for the bedroom doors last week. 

Part of this setting up of a home away from home involves comfortable sleeping. When she and her husband were there in July, they purchased a new mattress set. This time, they took up a gently used set, very gently used. It's probably only been slept on for a month. 

They drove right up to the border expecting entrance and were turned away because of the mattress. Bed bugs. No, there were no bed bugs, but that is the Canadians' concern. This is very amusing to me as bed bugs are everywhere, even Canada. We can thank our liberal immigration policies for this I suppose. Anyway, the Canadian Custom Agent didn't want a gently used mattress or any other mattress from the U.S. in his bed bug free environment. Forgive me while I chuckle. 

That's when I received the urgent call spoken of in yesterday's post. That's when my brain fired in all directions trying to think of what to do, what to do. Expensive mattress, not going to return all the way home because of the length of the drive, local storage unit facility not answering her call. I suggested that she call our Canadian cousin to see what he might say and then call me back.

In the intervening time, John and I arrived at "the kids' place." My son just shook his head in disbelief. My daughter and daughter-in-law had no suggestions either. We have seen many policy changes through the years, but this one was a special conundrum.

My Canadian cousin did have a suggestion: he has more American cousins...imagine that...who live close to the border on the U.S. side, but he knew that he'd have no way of explaining to Sis how to get there as his other American cousin lives on back roads deep in the woods. No go. Canadian cousin did say that he had a spare mattress set and would gladly donate it to the cause. Score!

In the meantime, what to do with the expensive set still on the trailer of Sis's vehicle. What might you have done? 

You're not going to believe what they did...

~camouflaged ???~

Right. They found an abandoned home and abandoned the mattress. Ackkkkk! Can you see it? 

We are all still shaking our heads and hoping that it'll be there when they go to pick it up.

Edited to add: Just as I was finishing this post, an email arrived with this subject: "Mrs. Beasley." It read: Just picked her up, none the less for the rain!! What an ordeal. 

I'll say, Sis, for all of us! ☺ As I said previously, nothing like a little drama.

Oh, and really, what might you have done?

Tomorrow? A simple post and short. I promise.