Living … One day at a time.

Sunday, November 11, 2019.

Remembrance Day.

 

Today, Canadians and citizens worldwide remember their loved ones who paid the ultimate price of our freedoms with their lives.

Some of those brave souls came home after the war not whole; whether body or mind.

I say brave souls as it was not only the soldiers who gave up their lives but nurses, doctors, horses and dogs.

The loss of life, all life from the World Wars  I and II staggers the imagination.

Have we learned anything from WAR, I wholeheartedly say no.

 

Although I am not a proponent of fighting or war; I will say this that without our citizens leaving our country.

I am afraid the loss of life may have been higher.

I am proud that we as a country have filled the role of peacekeepers throughout the decades since these wars.

 

My wish is that someday soon we, the humans on this planet, shall learn to live peacefully.

That our differences will be our strengths.

That kindness and respect shall prevail.

That death due to wars of any size is a thing of the past.

 

Perhaps if we Remember …. their loss will not be in vain.

That war will be a memory of the past.

 

 

With Respect,

Always, Carol and Alvin Lewis

 

 

On this day, 35 years ago, a baby boy was born.

We were neighbours.

All these years later, I have and always will be known as Auntie Carol.

All these years later, he will always be known as my little boy.

Alvin and  I want to wish him a very Happy Birthday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 8th day of October, 2017.

The morning is a cooler one with wind and deep blue clouds filling the sky.

Sunbeams no where to be seen.

 

I am so excited because today, Alvin and I have the pleasure to spend some time with our family …. my daughter, his sister, my son-in-law, his brother-in-law and the grand-pups Miss Aspen and Baby Milo.

We are always happy to spend time with this group of amazing beings.

I hope that wherever you are ….. whatever you are doing ….. that you are safe, warm, dry, that your belly is full of good food and you have access to clean drinking water.

May you always show your gratitude to those around you.

We need to be more grateful for others.

Grateful for the bus driver that drives you home from work, just doing their job.

Grateful for the cashier at the grocery store, standing all day, ringing through your items, just doing their job.

Grateful to all the truck drivers for spending hours and hours sitting driving all the things we need to the stores, just doing their job.

Grateful to all the rescue personnel for spending their days and nights keeping us safe, just doing their jobs.

Grateful to all the nurses and doctors for spending their days and nights tending to our wounds, just doing their jobs.

Grateful to have police officers for spending their days and nights keeping us safe, just doing their jobs.

Grateful for the city councillors out and about even on a long weekend, just doing their job.

Grateful for the men and women that keep the peace for our country and all around the world, just doing their job.

Grateful for all my neighbourhood children who think it was great fun to rake my leaves, no work at all, just being kids with no agenda.

Grateful for all of my FAMILY and FRIENDS, you are dear to me and Alvin.

Grateful for each and every one of you.

It is all of us that make this world.

Spread the gratitude and kindness.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Special Hello to: YOU, and YOU, and YOU ……

Always, Carol & Alvin

COUNTDOWN: 60 Days to 60

Today is Monday, July 10, 2017 and it is the 31st day until my 60th Birthday.

When I think back to all of the different professions of the people that I have meet over my almost 60 years ….. it has been incredible.

I have known leaders of major corporations, people who have started and grown their own successful businesses, mothers, fathers, ministers, teachers, tax collectors, reinsurance brokers, dancers, singers, musicians, policemen, lawyers, doctors of all kinds, nurses, veterinarians, all sorts of customer service personnel, firemen, policemen, postmen, sheriff, house and business cleaners, construction workers, hair stylists, cooks, servers, bartenders, real estate brokers, insurance brokers, farmers, volunteers, new reporter(s), DJ, children’s author, adult authors, accountants, private pilot, airforce pilot, airplane mechanic, bank managers, professional photographers, IT specialists, claims adjusters, underwriters, foreman, electricians, plumbers, tow truck owner/operator, pharmacist, jewellers, bus drivers, mechanics, oilfield workers, driller on oil rigs, directional drillers, housewives, contractors of all kinds, managers of all kinds, social workers, hospital unit clerk,  data entry operators, cashiers, customer service clerks, bank tellers, administrative assistants, dental assistants, dentist, and too many others to count.

 

If you sat back and made a list of all the people that you have known over your lifetime and what did they for a living the list would be massive.  I know that I am missing a great many.

Surrounded by incredible people my whole life.

These people who have helped form the person that I am today.

It truly takes a village.

I am truly blessed.

 

Always, Carol

 

Thought for the day ……

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 22nd day of November, 2015.

It is beautiful outside.

The sky looks like a summer morning with pale orange and white in the bottom layer of sky graduating up to pale blue.

So pretty.

What an odd night.

Alvin was eating again in bed ….. what a guy.

He woke me up at three as he needed to go outside.

So downstairs we went.

He went outside and then back upstairs where we slept until 8:00 a.m.

Guess what is missing?

He did not wake me up at 5:00 a.m. to EAT.

This is HUGE.

Unless I was in such a deep sleep that he could not wake me but I always hear him.

BIZARRE, hey.

Nevertheless he was more than happy to eat his breakfast at 8:00 a.m. patiently waiting until I made the bed and got dressed.

I mean patiently …. do you think he forgot?

Quite funny coming from such a foodie such as Alvin.

Anyway we are up …. first thing glass of lemon and water for the Momma and write this blog before starting laundry, having my breakfast and getting things done.

We had such a great time yesterday.

I love spending time with my girl.

The drive to Ponoka was awesome …. roads were dry as a board …. only a skiff of snow in the ditches and fields.

That is it as they say.

We arrived just before they were about to eat so we sat with my nephew in their dining room.

He surely has a great appetite and he did great.

Mostly eating by himself with a bit of help pushing the food onto his spoon made specially for him.

Afterward we went to the main lounge with him and had BIRTHDAY CAKE, he loved the cake.

Said “YUM” several times.

He was very happy to see us.

Face lit up and gave lots of hugs and kisses.

I found out that he is back to his old self, such a flirt with all of the girls including his cousin.

Kind of funny.

Sometimes we would hit a word that we could not understand but managed to work through it.

I cannot believe the progress he has made.

Sits in the wheelchair on his own.

He cannot walk yet I think in time he will.

We took him for a walk outside for about an hour just breathing in and enjoying the fresh air.

It was so nice not really cold at all.

We even saw a squirrel who managed to get in a few photos.

That is what happens when you have a photographer in the family.

Snapping lots of photos which he enjoyed.

It was a great day.

He loved the photo album that we took for him.

He has four now and he treasures them.

The nurses say that he looks at them all of the time.

It was hard to say good-bye but he is in such great hands.

Until next time.

The drive home went quickly and before you know it we were back in Edmonton.

Alvin was happy to see us.

My daughter stayed for a bit as we discussed some of the things to do before the craft show this coming Friday.

It will be fun.

Well I had better get this show on the road … I could write all day long but that will not get any of my tasks completed.

I hope that you had an awesome Saturday.

One thing I found …. sometimes a simple gift such as a book of photos is the best gift of all.

Simple is better most of the time.

Thank you to my neighbour for being with Mr. Alvin ….

Okay time to fly here …..

Special Hello to: all of those people who have a family member or friend with a brain injury, it is a long journey and sometimes things are never the same but it is important to remember that life is what you make of it ….. enjoy what time you have together.  Love is the best language as it is from the heart and there are no words necessary.

Always, Carol and Alvin

 

Thought for the day…..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 16th day of November, 2014.

I am sure that it was just Sunday yesterday but I guess not ….. what happened to this last week.

Well I know for sure that I was very busy so likely why the week just zipped by.

Yesterday was a great Saturday ….

My daughter and I picked up a Birthday Cake and card for my nephew who is in the hospital.

We took it to the hospital and quietly sang Happy Birthday and had a great visit with him.

He opened his eyes as he has been doing and one of these days I am certain he will actually come back to us.

One day at a time ….. slow process …… brain injuries.

We are so blessed that he is even alive.

After our visit we gave the cake to the nurses …… it didn’t seem right eating any when he could not.

I thought they would like the cake …. nice treat for all their hard work.

After all who does not like “chocolate” cake …..

We appreciate the nursing staff very much.

After that we did a bit of shopping ….. I found a new winter coat …. on sale and a few other much needed items.

Ended by my daughter treating us to a specialty coffee at StarBucks.

Then home …. took puppies for a walk ….

Had supper ….

Oh and in between did laundry …. cannot work without clean underwear and clothing ….. that is for sure.

I watched the movie Maleificent (not sure of the spelling) …. the one with Angelina Jolie-Pitt ….. very good movie.

Well almost time to go and work at the store.

I am so grateful that I have Saturdays off.

Also our weather has been amazing ….. nice change.

Another great weekend.

I hope that you had an enjoyable one…..

I will be back tomorrow morning…..

Thank you for reading my blog.

Special Hello to: another friend with a November Birthday – Happy Birthday “C” ….. have a great day.

Always, Carol and Alvin