In Honour of those who Protect and Serve

In the year 2012 - after 2000 years of enlightenment and discovery - Ontario has chosen to charge a police officer with second degree murder.  A young man who puts his life on the line every day to protect and serve us "formed the intent" to murder an individual on the wrong side of the law.   How backwards is that?  No prior relationship with the individual, no axe to grind, just woke up in the morning and decided to shoot this particular person while carrying out this particular search warrant for illegal gun possession - how random, how sublime? 

Frankly, I am bewildered and shocked that our Canadian culture/mindset, call it what you will, has reached a point where we charge police officers with second degree murder.  How is it possible that he "formed the intent to murder"?  Police officers carry a weapon every day, putting themselves at lethal risk every day protecting us from those who don't comply with the law.  These men and women do not get up in the morning to sit behind desks directing and managing a slew of harmless paper. They constantly find themselves in harms way, facing unpredictable, volatile, and potentially deadly situations.  

Perhaps a little empathy is in order here - would you and I always be able react in the perfect manner when making a split second decision?  Surely, we have to allow them the possibility of making mistakes - and because of the nature of their work - some of those mistakes will have lethal consequences.   Obviously there are consequences for making mistakes .... but second degree murder??

I can't help but make the comparison with our medical profession - people die every day in operating theatres, in hospital wards, and doctors offices because of incorrect diagnoses, botched surgeries, incorrect medications, delayed care, etc.  Why don't we make the leap and charge them with second degree murder for their mistakes?  The surgeons scalpel is surely just as potentially lethal as the police officers gun, is it not?

The pendulum of social mores has swung so far to the left in the ivory tower of political correctness that we are hanging by a gossamer thread to reality, and in imminent danger of plunging over the abyss of perfection.

Written and dedicated to the men and women who protect and serve, and especially to those who have given their lives in service to us all.  Constable Styles and others like him need to know we are grateful for their sacrifices.  

From Your Heart to Mine

Valentines Day 2012 - still magical, still celebrated.  We have been married more than 34 years now, and there is still sunshine, sparkles and fireworks.  Our relationship has grown, matured, and consolidated over time.  We seem to have weathered the worst of challenges and still come through the other side with a positive attitude and a strengthened resolve.

This year my husband took an afternoon off work to go home and prepare a delicious dinner.  He went to the trouble of laying a very romantic table replete with red candles and red roses.  I could only come home and heave a great sigh of contentment.

 I am very thankful and grateful for what we have together.  Here's wishing that we have much more time together.  How lucky can one person be??

Love You Forever and Always.

Escapade to Buffalo

This is a late entry that should have been posted pre-Christmas.  But in line with my 'intentions' it's worth a few finger taps to keys.  The story is about our sojourn to Buffalo for a weekend with two goals in mind:  shopping for bargains with no HST attached; and a few days of living in a bubble.  I am happy to say that both goals were accomplished with ease.

Firstly, the outlet malls on the south side of the Niagara Falls are a veritable Aladdin's Cave of treasures.  We found clothing marked down 50% and then received another 10% at the till for shopping that day - everyone was happy with our choices of Eddie Bauer, Ann Taylor, etc.  I was particularly pleased with a Kate Spade find.  And was it just my imagination or wishful thinking?  We found retail staff to be smiling, happy, and eager to help wherever we went.  In the big stores like Fifth Ave and Macy's, to the little ones offering very specific goods - all staff were available, easy to find, and ready to help - which is not always the case in our home town in Canada.  There, Sears at the local Mall sometimes feels like navigating a labyrinth - you have to negotiate walking sideways down dark alleys of racks of clothing, and then rummage through the stacks to find a worthy item, where bargains are usually no bargains - certainly not in the 50 to 80% range we experienced in Buffalo.  No sales people to be found anywhere on the floor so don't expect any help there.  The fitting rooms require standing in line weighed down by your prospective purchases, and then the final quest to find the check out cashier - an exercise in patience as you stand in a long queue waiting your turn to pay.

Our second goal of rest and relaxation was easily met - no phone calls, no interruptions, no chores - just quietly   relaxing in a bubble of contentment - quiet room, lots of books, a couple of movies, good food in restaurants with much cheaper bills, and a lie-in Sunday morning - something we never seem to do at home.

Have to talk about the game we played in parking lots - counting the number of Canadian number plates in a row - 11 was the most we saw - so we were in good company!

Wonderful weekend and one we will repeat soon.  

New Year Intentions

2012 is upon us and as usual I have a myriad of resolutions flying around my head.  Research tells us that about 50% of us make New Year's resolutions, but 22% fail within one week and 60% after 6 months (R Koestner, McGill University).

So instead of resolutions this time round, I will contemplate ten intentions.  A measure of success will be if I can accomplish time goals at least 75% of the time:

1. To write: a monthly newsletter to friends and family and a weekly blog.
2. To phone home to mom every Sunday.
3. To be fit enough by October to run the CIBC Cure for Cancer 5km race in Burlington.

4. To eat more healthy: less sugar, smaller portions, and lose 20lbs before the wedding, whenever that is.
5. To listen to my Spanish tapes in the car twice a week and actually practice speaking to someone.
6. To finish the Blurb book in the summer.
7. To get back to posting actual photos in actual albums.
And 2 more of the less measurable kind:
8. To procrastinate less. 
9. To be more organized.
And 1 to always keep in mind:
10. To be more relaxed, more patient, and more generous to others; and on the other end - less anxious, less cynical, and less impulsive.

Let's see how it goes....

Reflections

Today I have a new vision:

The ocean will be the icon by which I will steer my course.

I will surf its waves, find its ports, ride out its storms.

And most of all, I will cherish its safe harbours.

I will float, peacefully and quietly,

on a sea of calm whenever it presents itself,

storing up energy for days when gales may blow,

or when waters are rough, turbid or unforgiving.

I will be unperturbed by dark and ominous clouds overhead,

for they too, must pass.

I will know that

Change is a constant.

I will remember, each day,

to be thankful for the beauty and vibrancy underneath its waters,

for the hues of colour spread around the world,

and for the life it brings.

I will find solace in tide pools

left to bathe in the sunshine of an outgoing tide,

reflecting a microcosm of the oceans portent.

I will be watchful of high tides, swift currents, and... jellyfish.

I will find happiness in a sibilant shell;

wet, white sand oozing around my toes;

the damp salt spray dancing on a fresh wind,

and the brilliance of a sunset shimmering across the wide horizon.

I am a tiny emblem in the vastness and depths beyond myself.

I am a moment in time

and

I choose to ride on the crests of waves.

ABC's of New Year's Strategies to Live By

A is for Attitude - keep it positive, Adapt and Accept.
B is for Bold and Brave - take risks, make mistakes.
C is for Children - yours and mine - give them a better world.
D - Dance as if no-one is watching.
E - Efficiency and organization in all you do
F - Friendships to be nurtured and maintained.
G - Go as far as you are able, reach as high as you can, strive for all you can.
H - Help out wherever and whenever possible.
I - Invest your time wisely.  Gain Insight.
J - Jump for Joy at least once a day.
K - Kindness to others - try every day.
L - Learn - to speak fluent French and Spanish or something new: Tai Chi, Cello or maybe Line Dancing.
M - Motivate yourself and others.
N - Now is the moment - live it well.
O - Observe and Listen.
P - Patience and Persistence.
Q - Quality in work and relationships counts.
R - Relax and go with the flow.  Be flexible.
S - Save money and budget.
T - Travel on new adventures.
U - Utilize all your talents.
V - Validate and verify - don't jump to conclusions.
W - Worry less.  Weigh your words wisely.
X - eXercise! Enough said.
Y - You are the author of your life story - choose your path carefully.
Z - zest for life - keep it up!

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

A New and Exciting Pathway

The last day of 2011 brought with it winds of change.
Tiffany and Andrew are engaged to be married and we are all very happy for them.
Congratulations to you both.

It will be exciting to follow them on their journey over the next few months.  All those decisions to be made: date, venue, dress, location.  We have hours of fun and discussion to look forward to, and much to accomplish in the coming months.

Exciting times indeed!