So I Met a Mountie...

...of course, he was probably over 70, definitely retired, and not in uniform! Guess I should be more specific when I say I want to meet one, huh? I went to church this morning, and they were having a pancake breakfast. I figured why not? Might as well see how Canadians like their pancakes, and maybe I'd meet people. Of course, the only people that go to early masses on Sunday and then attend Pancake breakfasts are older people (I'm such an abnormality). Two older couples sat at the table with me, but one...well I found out he used to work for the RCMP for 25 years! That was so cool! I wanted to totally ask him all kinds of questions about the mounties (like where are they now??), but they kept asking me about why I came to Canada, and what was I studying? Ugh, I don't want to talk about me, I want to talk about mounties! I did find out he used to be in charge of the Northwest Territories (oooh....cool!) and they were actually a bit mad at him when he took a job in a different government department that paid better. I guess you're supposed to be a mountie for life (ooh, intrigue! Mounties blackballing one of their own and being bitter!). He also said that was more "back in the day" much like how you couldn't get married for the first 5 years back then. RCMP is national policing force and the Canadian Government wanted to be able to move them wherever in the country for 5 years, so no getting married. A bit harsh, but I kind of understand. I guess they don't have that rule any more either (good! ;).

so yeah...it was fun chatting with him and his wife, and I can at least say I've "met a mountie". He and his wife are snowbirds too and recently got back from their second house which is in Arizona. Guess his higher paying job paid off! But as his wife said, when he was in charge of the Northwest Territories for a few years, she had to live in the arctic all that time! I can understand why they prefer the warmer locations now! Those silly Mounties...