#15 Queenston Village: C'mon Laura! You're Gonna Do It!

In checking out an assisted living place, my mom's biggest concern was the dim hallways.  With her macular degeneration she needs all the light she can get. I told her that I had the perfect solution.  I'd buy her a Milwaukee lantern and she'd be able to see just fine - walking down the halls looking like Laura Secord only without the cow.

Actually I've heard naysayers claim the cow was apocryphal anyway - added in by later embellishers because it made for a better story. And I just read that Laura Secord made most of her journey in broad daylight.  I guess they'd claim Laura didn't need a lantern either.  Next thing they'll be denying the obvious fact that she owned a chocolate company.

But all my misgivings were put to rest when we entered the time warp.  I'm sure the 'experts' would say there is no such thing as time travel, but they'd probably change their minds if they had suddenly been transported back to June 21,1813.  As we came off Queenston Heights and drove to Laura Secord's cottage, there she was!  She had obviously just overheard the whispered intel that there would be an attack on Lieutenant FitzGibbon's troops and she was heading off to warn him. Most importantly she DID have a cow!  And a lantern!  And the clear giveaway?  She was munching a bar of Laura Secord chocolate.  I knew it!  

I tried to encourage Laura. "I know the end of the story. You're going to make it past the American spies.  It's going to be a grueling 20 mile journey but you're going to make it on time.  As a result of your message, FitzGibbon will be able to ambush the Americans and win the Battle of Beaver Dams." (I hoped I was remembering all my history correctly!) "Save the battery on your lantern! Your cow looks fantastic!  I love your chocolate!"  But none of my words made it across the void.

We left that strange encounter and drove down York Road - the very road Laura Secord would sneak along with her information.  Any doubts I had while in the time warp, about my knowledge of the outcome of that journey, were put to rest the next day in Ottawa. There in bronze in front of the parliament buildings was a sculpture called The War of 1812.  And there was Laura, looking all proper and distinguished handing the message to FitzGibbon.  Mission accomplished.



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