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Top Comments: Back From Toronto Jam Edition [1]
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Date: 2025-06-02
Row 25 had PLENTY of legroom!
As I mentioned two weeks ago, this past Thursday I boarded an Air Canada plane to Toronto. It was almost two years earlier that I’d made this same trip, to the same Mississauga hotel, to see many of the same people. It was Jam time, and 50 or so of us gathered for a long weekend of music and merriment!!
About one third of the group is or lives in Canada, while the rest of us had to cross the border. For many of us it was the first time since Jan 20th and I was extremely nervous how it would go. I got into the TSA Pre line, the agent called me up, scanned my passport, then said “you don’t have TSA pre, so go over to that line”. I waved my Global Entry card and he said while he believed me, the only way he could let me through was if I went and had them add it to my boarding pass. As I was over two hours before boarding (Mr. Brillig had a work meeting so dropped me off early) I went back to the Air Canada counter and they easily added it.
When I got back to TSA Pre, I got a cheerful “welcome back!” and suggestions for how it might have been omitted from my ticket (he said third-party booking sites often end up with this info missing), some conversation as it was very slow, and I was on my way to the gate. My flight was half empty, and as the photo above shows I had an entire ROW to myself. I’ve never had that happen in my entire life.
Entry into Canada was quick- the longest part of it was trying to get the document reader to scan my passport, and I felt sheepish until the customs agent ALSO needed three tries! Found my hotel shuttle and was the only one on it, so the driver felt OK talking freely when I asked if there were many Americans coming in or Canadians visiting us. He said that while he’d sold his Florida place in February because they bought a place in Panama, almost every other Canadian in that development had sold because of Trump.
My weekend was fantastic! If you’ve been to Netroots Nation and feel the ‘family reunion’ vibes, these people are my JamFam. This was either my tenth or eleventh Jam, but others have been to twenty or more. Whether we’ve known each other for fifteen years or fifteen minutes, there are hugs and laughter. Toronto Jam in particular is welcoming for those of us who didn’t register to attend as musicians but rather fans. We were often up and singing backup together on mics. [Note: Rumors I donned Pig Ears and became a Hogette backing up one of the musicians who in his real life is a pig farmer cannot be confirmed. Any photos circulating are definitely AI deepfakes].
As is always the case we stayed up too late, drank or edibled weeks’ worth in three days, acted like teenagers, and made or listened to some of the best live music you could ever hope for. A youth lacrosse team was also in the hotel and on Friday night a dozen parents drifted in, sat down, and had fun too!
Politics is generally not a topic at Jams because we’re there for the music, but in cars driving to the LCBO for beverages (there really was no US brand items available, but SO many other choices and I wish some of them were available here!), stores for food and dispensaries for legal cannabis, some discussing happened. Several of the Canadians said they would be skipping future Jams (as well as regular shopping trips) in the United States until they no longer have to be concerned about imprisonment, deportation and a permanent ban on entering this country. As one Canadian friend said, “look at me. Do you think I’m not scared of what could happen?!” Almost everyone I spoke with on both sides of the border dislikes this regime as much as we do.
Sunday morning came and I debated how much to remove from my phone. I did make sure my laptop was powered down before I left the hotel, and chose to delete my social media apps and turned off facial recognition (readded once I was at the gate, lol). I checked my bag for this flight because a Jammer had family connection to a maple syrup farm and I definitely obtained more than a ziploc bag-sized bottle, and headed for Immigration because you clear US Customs there and not once you arrive in the US. I got to the agent who asked “what was your purpose visiting Canada”, and I said “a regular meetup of friends”. Next question was whether I had anything to declare, and I mentioned the maple syrup. “Nice! But it’s under the limit. Take your glasses off please”. One facial scan (and I know I could refuse, but I also know they already have my photo and this isn’t the hill I choose to resist on) and I was on my way. It took under a minute. I took a quick look around and there didn’t seem to be anyone being questioned at length, and I didn’t see a noticeably heightened enforcement presence. I am fully aware this isn’t everyone’s experience and I do know some folks had lengthier interviews (mostly because they had instruments and the question was whether they got paid to perform), but it was MY experience.
The return flight was packed, I assume because it was Sunday afternoon not Thursday morning. I’m still catching up on sleep, stalking social media as people post pictures and videos, and anticipating the next one I’ll be able to attend. How was YOUR weekend?
I leave you with the two songs almost all of us got up and joined in on. One is Wagon Wheel, our traditional Jam closing song which I thought I was gonna miss but we had an “unauthorized” rendition on Saturday, and the other was Life In A Northern Town, an absolute blast to do in a big friendly group!
Now on to the Tops!
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