Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas 2009 - a memorable one it will be!


Well... another year has almost come and gone. It is incredible how fast time seems to fly these days despite not really having established my role in society, and the anxiety this has caused me lately. Kind of feel that this included picture says it all ... an open canvas ... beautiful, but some how frighteningly inaccessible. (This pic is of the Saw Grass of the Florida Everglades.)

The good news is that we are - mostly - healthy, and my kids are well on their intended paths. Heather to working in business, and Leigh as a doctor - given that all proceeds as well as it ha been for her in her quest to get accepted to med school. I will simply be amazed should this endeavor fail!

This morning we recieved a call from Leigh, who is in Barcelona for the holidays. She had great - and for a father inevitably terrible news - she has become engaged to her man Aaron.

I am in fact thrilled, as Aaron seem a great match for her, but it is yet one more step toward total independence for her - and ultimately Heather as they begin their own lives totally separated from Marg and me.

I guess I have been dreading this moment ever since I held Leigh, then Heather as infants. It is certainly true that daughters  hold unusually strong sway over a father's heartstrings. Though I did not cry with emotional overload today, nor when Aaron did Marg and I the considerable honor of asking for her hand, I can say that I have not fully processed the whole deal even though it has been almost a month since I have known.

Of course, it is to soon to know when their marriage will be held, nor where in the world they intend to hold it. I do hope that they do not fall prey to the considerable pressures of traditionalism. I don't honestly know how I would handle it should they opt to spend money on what - after all - is just a party lasting only a few hours. Life is difficult enough for this generation - the economy, costs for housing and education and the like - without frittering away money needlessly.

I am glad that my uncle Stewart is here, and able to share in the good news. This made all the more poignant, as my sister-in-law - Tara - lost her mother to cancer just a few days ago. So although none of Leigh's grandparents remain alive, at least one of that - perhaps the greatest generation - has been able to share her joy.

Heather seems genuinely pleased as Leigh has already asked her to be her Maid of Honor. Even though these two siblings fight like cats and dogs on occasion, I am happy - almost beyond belief - that they seem to have developed a very deep love for one another.  I cannot help observing that their relationship seems to have improved immeasurably since they stopped living together. Heather seems also to have found equilibrium with her man - James - a very nice young man she has been seeing on and off for a number of years. I would not surprise me if they did not some day declare themselves as well. Please though... not for a while. Dad needs time to let this first one sink in!

So in just the past month, Cathy - Marg's sister - turned 60; we lost Tara's mom, Leigh is engaged and we have learned of Heather's intention to move to Toronto once her MBA has been completed in April. Oh... and Leigh has learned of her first, all important, interview with St. Georges University Medical School. I can hardly keep up any more!

Tonight, we are all off to Tom and Tara's for Christmas dinner, No doubt it will be a little more subdued than normal given the circumstances, but with both my nieces under 12, their youthful exuberance should help buoy all our spirits.


To anyone out there that might be wasting your time actuall reading this drivel, Merry, Merry... and should this scribbler not get to it in time, have a safe and healthy 2010.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Don't let the bastards get you down... there is something you can do...


Check out this 'letter to the Editor' written by a Canadian woman; a housewife in New Brunswick - to her local newspaper. This is one ticked off lady. Oh how it also applies to the U.S., U.K. and Australia:
   

    Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not
    started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September
   11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?

    Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day,
    in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from the nation's capitol
   and in a field in Pennsylvania?

    Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible,
   burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

   And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be
    tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are
    fighting against in a brutal insurgency.
    I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents
    for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

   I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start
   caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime
    punishable by beheading in Afghanistan.

    I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking
    off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed
    throat.

   I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Afghanistan come
    out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by
    hiding in mosques.

    I'll care when the mindless zealots who blows themselves up in search
    of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their
    suicide bombs.

    I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom
    of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers
    on the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when
    something happens.

    In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing
    up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:

    I don't care.

    When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told
    not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the
    bank:


   I don't care.

    When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat,
    and 'fed special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is
   complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely
believe
    in your heart of hearts:

    I don't care.

    And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran'
    and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it,

   I don't care!!

    If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail
    friends Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this
    ridiculous behaviour!

    If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should
    you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities
    committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country!

    And may I add:

    'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a
    difference in the world. But, the Soldiers don't have that problem.'

    I have another quote that I would like to add, AND.......I hope you
    forward all this.

    One last thought for the day:

    Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

    1. Jesus Christ

    2. The Canadian Soldier.

    3. The British Soldier.

    4. The US Soldier, and

   5. The Australian Soldier

    One died for your soul, the other 4 for your freedom.

    YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET ALL OF THEM.

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