Monday, October 22, 2012

If I Let You Go "Letting Go" Bloghop

Today Kyra Lennon's newest contemporary romance novella, If I Let You Go is now available! Woo-hoo! Congratulations, Kyra! I've already had a chance to read it and it's fantastic. You can read my review here.

In celebration of her release, Kyra is hosting a "Letting Go" bloghop. Everyone must share a story about a time they had to let go of someone or something. It can be something that you experienced, or if you don't wish to share something so personal, you can write a piece of flash fiction with "letting go" as the theme. Please no more than 500 words. Kyra and an independent judge - her mum! - will read all the entries. The winner will get a $10 Amazon gift card.

I've had to let go a lot in my life. I've lost my father and Granddad. I've had two broken engagements. But I'm going to write about something different.

Never in my life did I expect to fall in love with an American. I was born and raised in Canada, and I love my country. I wanted to travel the world, but I always thought I'd live my life in Canada. I've been lucky enough to travel coast to coast and see almost all the provinces. Beautiful.
When my husband and I decided the best course of action (due to several factors) was for me to move down to Indiana, I was excited to start a new life with my man and see new places. Yet the moment we crossed over the border with my meager belongings, it hit. And hard.

I was leaving Canada. I was going to have to give up my citizenship. The country I was in love with would be mine no longer. I was use to being away from family and friends, but not my country. I thought it such a silly thing to get upset about, but it ripped out my heart. I didn't want to let go.

The ache diminished over the years, because I'm the happiest I've ever been living with my husband. We bought a cozy little house and had a gorgeous child. It doesn't matter where we live as long as we're together. I still miss Canada. We don't get enough chances to visit as often as I'd like. I don't think I'll ever let go completely. I still harbor the dream that one day, my husband and I will retire to Canada.

One wonderful thing that helped me was a new law was passed about citizenship. I no longer how to give up my Canadian citizenship to become an American. You can bet I'm tickled pink about this! My son is already a dual citizen. I made sure to do it when he was born. So much easier that way. Now I can be one too.

In FEARLESS news, today is the first day of my new blog tour. Please click on over to The Ebook Reviewersand say hi!
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23 comments:

  1. Suzanne FurnessOctober 22, 2012 at 2:55 AM

    I think it's natural to have attachements to the place we were born and raised however happy we maybe somewhere else. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. UnknownOctober 22, 2012 at 4:02 AM

    Patriotism IS a wonderful thing, we need more of it! Congrats on then dual citizenship.

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  3. Kyra LennonOctober 22, 2012 at 5:35 AM

    Oh wow, I can't imagine moving to a different country permanently. That must have been SO hard.

    Thanks for joining in with the bloghop! <3

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  4. Alex J. CavanaughOctober 22, 2012 at 7:50 AM

    I've lived in several different countries and it's always a scary thing. Glad you and your son both have dual citizenships.

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  5. jaybirdOctober 22, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    I'm so happy you love being here now. I moved around a lot when I was a kid and I hated it. From NJ to CA and back again. So I could really relate to this post. I left my heart in San Francisco, for sure!! I don't get back there often enough either.

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  6. L.G. KeltnerOctober 22, 2012 at 11:36 AM

    Having dual citizenship would be awesome. I can't imagine leaving my home country to live elsewhere. I think we all get attached to places, especially when we lived there for so long. Still, at least you're happy where you are now. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. AllisonOctober 22, 2012 at 12:01 PM

    I didn't know you were Canadian! That is wonderful--so am I :) Dual citizenship is so handy too. Glad you are happy where you are!

    Allison (Geek Banter)

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  8. Tara TylerOctober 22, 2012 at 12:53 PM

    no wonder you are so nice! you're canadian! so glad you get to claim both!

    and way to go kyra!

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  9. Christine RainsOctober 22, 2012 at 4:00 PM

    Thank you all for stopping in! This bloghop has been so much fun already. :)

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  10. CynthiaOctober 22, 2012 at 5:49 PM

    Saying hello from the blog hop...a new follower here too. I have family in Canada and visited there many years ago...it's a lovely place!

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  11. M PaxOctober 22, 2012 at 6:15 PM

    Awesome. Since I grew up on the border, I've always had a soft spot for Canada. Spent a lot of time there [southern Ontario], know the national anthem, and was a stalwart hockey fan.

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  12. Cherie ReichOctober 22, 2012 at 6:57 PM

    I wish they would come up with a world citizenship. :)

    And it had to be hard. When I moved to Missouri for school, it wasn't easy, but I always knew I could come back home. And I hope to visit Canada one day. Some of my best friends came from there. :D

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  13. Nicki ElsonOctober 22, 2012 at 7:25 PM

    Oh man, your letting go story makes mine look completely pathetic. Good for you getting dual citizenship, that's the coolest - and how great for your son.

    Have fun on the blog tour!

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  14. Jaycee DeLorenzoOctober 22, 2012 at 8:05 PM

    Thanks for sharing! I'm glad you're happy where you are, but it is awesome to have those options to become dual-citizens. :D

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  15. Christine RainsOctober 22, 2012 at 8:54 PM

    That would be awesome if there was a world citizenship. I was jealous of one of my roommates in college that he had US, Canadian, and German citizenship.

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  16. T.J.October 22, 2012 at 9:33 PM

    Hubby is from the UK and waited for the new rules before applying for his citizenship :) He loves it here, doesn't want to return except visits, but wasn't willing to give up his UK citizenship either.

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  17. Susan Gourley/KelleyOctober 22, 2012 at 9:53 PM

    Congrats on the dual citizenship. Glad to have you as an American. Love our northern friends and neighbors.

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  18. Tammy TheriaultOctober 23, 2012 at 1:48 AM

    dual citizenship rocks! bloghopping here and a new follower...nice to meet u!

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  19. michelleOctober 23, 2012 at 2:26 AM

    What a great story. Dual citizenship means a win-win situation. Thanks for sharing. I'm visiting from the bloghop.

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  20. dolorahOctober 23, 2012 at 3:43 AM

    Of course you're feeling displacement issues! I lived in Germany for three years, and while I loved the country, the citizens, the history wrapped in my own heritage (I'm German/Irish) I still missed everything about the US, even stuff I didn't like. Giving up a country can be horrendous.

    I enjoyed your review of Kyra's book, and I'll click over to your tour interview soo. Its late here and I gotta work tomorrow; er, today.

    ..........dhole

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  21. Nick WilfordOctober 23, 2012 at 2:49 PM

    That's great about the citizenship. I related to this post because I moved to Scotland from England for college; then stayed when I met my wife. It was quite a culture shock at first, being so used to the English way of thinking, but to be honest, people up here are generally nicer! And I've got my beautiful family so that's all I need. :)

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  22. Lynn(e) SchmidtOctober 24, 2012 at 11:55 AM

    I'm so glad you don't have to give up your citizenship! It sounds like you're adjusting well, but Canada is awesome. (I've lived in Michigan and Maine most of my life, so we just hop the border and gamble :) I hope you get your retirement wish :)

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  23. Catherine NobleOctober 26, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    I've always wanted to visit Canada! I've always harboured a dream to move away from Glasgow, but I think I'd be as devastated as you if I moved away from Scotland. I'm sure home is where your husband and child are. How sweet :)

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