Tim Horton: A true Canadian icon. It’s practically ubiquitious. You know you are in a Canadian city or town when you see one or more Tim Horton coffee and donut shops. For example, London, Ontario (which is close to where I live) has a Tim Horton’s at almost every corner. This is one city that could benefit from a 12-step addiction recovery program. The problem is this: To be truly Canadian, you gotta love Tim Horton’s coffee or donuts. So, any 12-step recovery program that is set up will immediately close down due to lack of demand. If you want to see the profile of a Canadian caffeine addict, just look me up. I’m the female prototype. You would see me chugging an X-large coffee with double cream daily especially in the morning on the way to work. Canadian economy simply won’t survive without Tim Horton’s addicts like me supporting it. Seriously. I even have a Tim Horton’s coffeemaker at home.

One day last week, I looked for the can of Tim Horton coffee grounds to make coffee at home. Upon discovering that I was completely out of coffee, I loaded my 5 kids into the van and drove over to a drive-through Tim Horton’s. Upon arrival, I got into the line of cars and wrote down my order for a new can and a coffee cup to indulge my craving. When I reached the window, I handed the lady my paper. She looked a bit stressed and handed me my paper back and told me in gestures to drive around the building. I was confused and thought perhaps she would send someone to bring my order. I went and parked in the parking lot. I waited and waited. Thinking perhaps she wanted me to drive through again and she would have my order ready, I went to the drive through window again. That same woman told me to go around and park in gestures again.

Silly me. I thought perhaps I missed one employee who may have brought me my order, so I parked in the parking lot again. I waited. This time, I saw a young male employee come out. He walked over to me and gestured,” YOU WALK IN.” Disbelievingly, I asked, “ME WALK IN??” He nodded. I pointed to my 5 kids seated in the back and gestured. ” ME LEAVE KIDS. WALK IN?” I quickly shook my finger. ” ME BRING KIDS IN. WALK IN?” This time, I shook my finger angrily. With my anger rising even higher, I gestured, ” YOU GIVE TO ME. ME NO WALK IN!!! YOU GIVE TO ME. I GO AROUND. YOU GIVE TO ME!!” During my tirade, the poor young man tried to calm me down and gestured for me to go around to the drive through window. I thanked him and drove to the window, expecting to see that audistic woman there. That poor man that I chewed out was there. He gave me my order sheepishly, and I smiled at him trying to let him know there was no hard feelings. I really didn’t blame him, but I do blame that cowardly woman for putting him into that position rather than facing me herself.

I had previously heard of similar situations happening in the U.S.A., such as the one that ended in a successful lawsuit by a deaf woman against a fast-food giant–Wendy’s, I believe, a few years ago (If my information is incorrect, please set me straight.) I thought it might happen here in Canada, too, but I didn’t expect it to actually happen to me. If it ever happens to me again in the future, I would certainly park myself right outside that window and NOT move until I get serviced.