The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you on this rainy Saturday, July 2, 2022? Both Alvin and I are rested. You are likely wondering about that statement. So here is the story: last night we went to bed well after 10:00 closer to 10:30 and then I read for awhile. I do remember getting up once (me) to go to the bathroom and then back to bed, Mr. Alvin did not stir. The next time I looked at the time, it was 6:52 a.m., wow, can you believe it? I really had to look at the time more than once. It was not until I got up that the boy stirred. Up, he had his food and “medicine” and we went outside, gladly it was only raining lightly. Then back in the house. I was wondering how he managed to sleep for almost 8 hours in a row. Likely it was due to the walking and spending over 1.5 hours outside in Pauline’s garden and then a little while later having a haircut and bath. The haircut and bath are two of his least favorite things to being doing and he was clearly stressed, anxious about having it done. So he may have been exhausted. As of me, well I have not had 8 hours of continuous sleep in likely 8 years or more. Except for the few times that Alvin has slept over at his sister’s house. He doesn’t like car travel so does not happen often. He is quiet this morning but he is not usually loud anyway. It is raining outside now so I guess watering the flowers was not necessary but who knew, it would really rain. They needed a drink of water. Anyway, I did not over water them so all is well. I had watered my plants, too. Yes, I remembered to move the lavender plant so that she will not get even more wet. She is still drying out and I hope that her roots are not rotting from all of the water. The soil is slowly drying out. I guess time will tell. So that is the story. Oh, I remembered to take my phone and snap some photos of my friend’s beautiful flowers but alas I am experiencing technical difficulties and they are not uploading. But I will get them posted. You have to see her gardens, absolutely beautiful. I even snapped some photos of the roses at the entrance to the park. It was a great couple of hours that spent outside yesterday. On top of all of that, I managed to do several loads of laundry, clean out some kitchen drawer, made some small changes with a few pieces of furniture in the living room. I honestly only sat down for the time that I had late breakfast at like noon and then for supper so maybe 30 minutes and we were up at 7:00 so that would account for me being pooped. Even after supper I was running up and down the stairs with laundry. The stress of Alvin’s haircut goes onto me, as well. All in all, it was a wonderful day.

We are happy to live in this house, in this neighbourhood, in this city, in this province and this country. This whole world – every country has a story that they are not proud of and I would hope that in 2022 we are doing better at being kind and respectful to others, not just human beings but all living creatures and the environment but sadly that is not the case. Just remember this, it is not the actions or feelings of the average everyday citizens that are making these decisions it is the so called leaders. I am not the past leaders, political or religious and not the current ones. I am a good person, I treat everyone with respect and kindness. So when people make blanket comments about all of this, it hurts my heart. I try to do the best that I can in my world. My actions reflect who I am. I was not what I would deem to be privileged but perhaps that word is being used with a more broad meaning. I do not blame my upbringing nor do I blame certain people for my lot in life, I can make choices. It is my choices that have brought me to this place. I just wanted to say something and perhaps I am not the most eloquent “speaker” or “writer” in the world. Sorry for the severe change in topic. But yesterday and all the yesterdays for awhile, I have been thinking about Canada and her past. I love my country despite her past. If we gave up on “people” for their pasts, there would be nothing. I am disappointed that in 2022 there are still wars and that we are not working together for the common good.

I hope that you have a great Saturday. There is always food for thought. We can always do better. It is raining harder now. My coffee is ready and I need it this morning.

Photos to follow.

Continuing to live this life with respect, kindness, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: only 38 days until my 65th Birthday.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are well and glad that it is the weekend. The sky is white this morning and there is a bit of a breeze. I sure hope that the sun shines today. I think the temperature is supposed to be warmer. Have not checked since late yesterday afternoon. Our weather changes in the blink of an eye. Mr. Alvin is resting in the hallway outside the office door, it seems to be one of his favourite places when I am in the office. He has a comfy bed on the office floor and then our bedroom is a few steps away so lots of choices for places for him to be. Depends on his mood.

I hope that you had a good week. It has been difficult not to think and worry about the people of Ukraine. It would be nice if Russia would just turn around and go home. I feel for the people of Ukraine. For the ones lost in a war that should not have happened. For those who left someone behind to fight in the war. For those who left home with virtually the clothes on their backs not knowing if they will ever be able to return home and if they do, will they have a home still standing? This is 2022 and war should be something we only read about in the history books, not something happening as I type these words.

Hoping and praying for peace and that the Russians just turn around and go home.

To all the Ukrainians living in Alberta, in Canada and all over the world, I hope that your family is safe.

No matter if you are Ukrainian or not, no one other than Putin wants this war.

I can smell my coffee which is waiting for me to take the first sip. It is time to say goodbye for this day.

Have a good Friday.

Thank you for taking the time to read my posts. I appreciate your time.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I am focusing my thoughts on seeing the Russian soldiers turning around and going back home to Russia.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR – last quarter

REMEMBRANCE

An old woman sits alone in a small room,

Quietly weeping as she remembers,

The lives lost because of wars fought on this earth.

The first person she remembers losing was her Uncle Jack, she was only a small girl at the time, age four.

Uncle Jack used to bring a bag of sweets when he visited her family.

He was her Father’s oldest brother,

He fought in the first World War.

She remembers her grandparents receiving a telegram briefly stating that Uncle Jack was killed in action and thanking them for his service to his country.

She was married when World War II started and had a family of her own.

She remembers two of her four brothers enlisting at the beginning of the war.

She remembers her Mother’s quiet screams when they received notification that they were killed in action in some country far far away.

On the day when her husband decided he could no longer sit back and hear of the stories of lost family and friends and the possibility of the world being lost to a mad man, he hugged her and enlisted in the armed forces. A trained pilot was badly needed. She felt in her heart that he would not return. She hugged him tightly and kisses him hard on the mouth so that she would have that memory for the rest of her life.

In 1943, she received the yellow paper stating that her husband John and his crew were shot down and presumed killed in action. She wept quietly as she held the paper in her hands. Now she was truly alone and would continue to raise her six children on her own.

Years later when her second eldest son, also a pilot like his father joined the Armed Forces and went to fly in the Korean War, her heart skipped a beat. How could she go through this again but there was no stopping Edward, he was much like his Father when he made up his mind. Only a few short months after he left his plane was shot down by the enemy. Another letter, another life lost to these terrible wars. When would they end?

In the Vietnam War, her youngest daughter Katherine who was a nurse signed up, as a sign of the times to go and provide aid to the wounded. Also a short time later another son Mark decided to follow his sister, he was a Doctor. Medical personnel were greatly needed.

She remembers listening to the television and watching news clips of the war and missing her children so much not knowing if they would return. Occasionally receiving a letter from them.

On a summer day a black car pulled up to her home and two men in uniforms came to the door. Her daughter Katherine had been killed by enemy fire when she was tending to the wounded. Her son Mark returned home at Christmas in 1974 he had been wounded but he was alive. He was the first family member in all those decades to return home alive from a war. She was grateful.

The last war that involved her family was the Persian Gulf War in 1990. Two of her great grandchildren were enlisted in the Army at this time but thankfully they returned home, uninjured.

At 107, she had lost so many members of her family to War. The memories still front and centre in her mind. That was her cross to bear having a good sense of recollection.

Now, too old to participate in Remembrance Day Ceremonies, she sits quietly in her room …….

Written by C.Lewis on November 11, 2020