The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Those words cause a person to feel slighted, irritated and sometimes surprised. The Canadian/U.S. border is now closed, except for essential travel. Essential travel is commercial products being taken back and forth to each country. There are feelings on each side of the border concerning the closing, but this article will deal with what this means for the U.S. side.

Big Sandy, for the most part, appears unperturbed and unaffected. However, these are early days. As time goes on, more problems may emerge. Traveling, of course, in Canada by an American, is not allowed. Both the U.S. government and Canada revisit the possibility of reopening the border each month. Still, given the continued rise of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., a reopening is probably not going to happen this year.

I have not gone far in the community but know of two people other than myself for whom this travel ban has proven emotionally upsetting in one case and stressful and cost concerns in another.

The Merrill family had farm equipment break down. A part was needed, but guess what? It's manufactured in Canada. Before the ban, they would've been across the border and back with their part in a day, with their equipment up and running shortly after. However, they could not cross, so we're forced to order their part and wait for its delivery. I can attest that parcels and letters can take three or more weeks to get here from Canada. Stressful and expensive to have your equipment down for an unspecified but lengthy time.

Marlene Terry was born and raised a Canadian, but after living here for several years became a U.S. citizen, losing her Canadian citizenship. This decision did not have a negative effect on her until now. As an American, at this time, even though she was born Canadian, she cannot enter Canada. As many know, Marlene has a sister, Abbey, who lives in Red Deer, Alberta, who has many health challenges. Marlene had planned to visit her sister this summer. Also on her calendar, was a Canadian family reunion in August. Who would've thought last year that she would not be able to visit her sister or attend the reunion? Such situations can be heart-wrenching!

Shane Ophus has been waiting for a man in Alberta to come across Canada's border concerning real estate, but according to the law, this client will not be able to come until the border is reopened. Shane also recounted that he had heard about a man, a Canadian, who had a house in Phoenix. This man told the border guards that Phoenix's house was having extreme plumbing problems, pipes breaking, etc. He was allowed across, but sometime later, a border agent appeared in Phoenix asking for the name and number of the plumber or pipefitter he had used for the plumbing job. He, of course, could not supply this information. He was deported immediately and banned from future travel into the U.S. Shane was not sure how long the ban was, but it starts at two years and can be considerably more at the discretion of the border agent. Lying at the border is not recommended, especially at this heightened awareness of the coronavirus's transmission.

I have children and grandchildren in Saskatchewan, Canada. (pronunciation is--Sask--at--chew--on). Due to the border closure, I have not been able to see them since December. When I left after a wonderful Christmas, I had expected to return in March for one of my grandchildren's birthdays. Then the virus happened, and the border closed. As a Canadian citizen and a permanent resident of the U.S., I can cross into each country at this time. However, there is a catch. I must quarantine for two weeks once I have entered Canada. As a result, I have been waiting for the border to reopen, so I would not need to quarantine. Seeing the writing on the wall, I am going in September. My thinking is that it is better to quarantine in September than the winter months when you can't enjoy your yards. I must only stop for gas once across until I reach my home. I can't stay with other people. Fortunately, I have my own house. I must provide all my contact information at the border and contact information for the one person I must choose who will bring my groceries and any other needs to my doorstep. I can have absolutely no visitors. I cannot leave my property for two weeks, not even for a walk, not for any reason.

My name will be given to Health Canada and the RCMP. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). As I do not live in a town with its law enforcement, I am in the RCMP jurisdiction. Both Health Canada and the RCMP will oversee my quarantine. They will be doing spot checks on me, by landline, cell phone, texts, and physical drop-ins. If I am found not quarantining according to the rules, I can be fined up to a million dollars and sent to jail for four years. I received this information from a border agent at the Turner/ Climax crossing where I go back and forth to Canada and the U.S. I can guarantee I will be taking my quarantine very seriously!

For those of you who never have business in Canada, or loved ones living there, this will be another story about something that doesn't affect you. For the sake of those who are not so lucky, please take this pandemic seriously.