OUR CANADIAN HIGHWAY OF HEROES WILL GET 117,000 TREES

To honour our Canadian veterans who died in conflicts over the years, a stretch of the 401-Macdonald-Cartier- highway in Ontario from Trenton to Toronto is called the Highway of Heroes. Whenever a fallen Armed Forces person returns to Canada their body is brought along that stretch to the Coroner's office in Toronto. Ordinary citizens, police, firemen will line all the bridges along the way with flags and hands across hearts. Often they wait for hours for the hearse and cavalcade of cars carrying the family and others to proceed. Cars on the highway will pull over to the right to allow the the procession to pass peacefully.  A wonderful salute. It was announced that over the next few years 117,000 trees will be planted along this wonderful route to honour our fallen. Remembering is always important! The families and friends will always know their loved ones will be honoured. Canadians are a quiet bunch but we do love and care for our country men and women from all over this beautiful nation! Lest we forget!

LIFE IS LIKE FALL LEAVES

As the trees shed the remainder of their leaves, there is an adventure in walking through them. The sound of crunching and swishing and dragging one's feet to enjoy the sensation is a small joy of embracing the moment. Wishing I had my camera on my walk to work, as many images prevail! Like life Fall has its moments like the middle age woman. Finding new activities before the cold of winter.

When the wind blows, listen to the sound.

The leaves although laying on the ground, reflect that lives have been lived.  Get out and play in some leaves, then of course rake them up. Put them on the flower beds to keep those spring bulbs warm over the winter. Oh the fall of our lives so full of life, love and new ventures incorporated with the old ones.

WEAR YOUR POPPY WITH PRIDE

How many poppies do you have? Remember those who fought for our freedoms in Canada in the various conflicts over the centuries. If you don't know them all, a visit to the War Museum in Ottawa will give a reality check! I wear my Vimy Ridge pin with pride- my grandfather Ernie Ellis fought in that Canadian battle in World War One! Our family hero! Do you have a family hero? If possible hug a Veteran!

RESILIENCE GIVES STRENGTH FOR TOUGH TIMES

Calling on life's experiences to forge through tough times keeps one grounded. Resilience the ability to bounce back and hang in there. The dictionary tells us- recovering from shock, depression- buoyant! In the clinical world, individuals and families that survive well show tremendous resilience. Surviving hard times and picking up one's socks to continue takes it. Not everyone bounces back! The threshold of resilience can vary with individuals. Sometimes I surprise myself at how resilient I really am. Child of divorce in the 1950s and ridiculed in my youth taught me to trust and like myself. Layoffs, fraudulent business  partners, a conniving family member and other events did not stop me! Reaching out to others and being a good friend. Finding the good people and being nice to others but not including them in my inner circles.  Recently dealing with some glitches after my husband's knee surgery, I revisited the concept of resilience. The way others reacted to me, I realized they do not know how really resilient I really am!! They did not know me! So he may have some ongoing health issues that need attention. Manageable! We can do it! Even Adolph's resilience to the current situation is so hopeful. He had to quit smoking cold turkey and he did it- one day at a time! Life is going on and is okay. Besides folks as we age, we are all going to get something! Sometimes it may just be old age, but everyone dies eventually. So facing the issues along the way and dealing with them head on, well that's resilience. So what if you need reading glasses, a cane, medication or whatever else will help you get through the day- be resilient and just go for it! Tell yourself all the other events you survived and you can survive this one! Of course one does not have to like everything thrown your way, you just have to cope and be resilient! Are you dealing with a tough time today?
#resilienceintoughtimes#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#gettingovertoughtimes#beingagoodfriend#facingourissuesalongtheway

NANA SAYS CHILDREN CAN BE HEROES

A wonderful little five year old was honoured in Edmonton yesterday at an awards ceremony for saving her mother and brother. The car had rolled down an embankment, her mother and brother were injured. She removed her air bag. She climbed the ridge in bare feet to the road near Jasper to flag down a car. Her actions were noted by emergency services. Children have been known for their ability to think and act under pressure. Not every child needs a traumatic event to prove they can be smart. Teach children where they live and how to get help. The 911 number and how to call emergency services if needed. Children can be helpful in any situation. I loved the story. It really touched my heart.

FENCES GIVE US BOUNDARIES

Fences make good neighbours. In life putting up our own fences  help us contain various aspects of it by keeping us focused. Separating work and home. Friends from acquaintances, Public and private thoughts. Sometimes fences needs mending like relationships. Deciding on what kind of fence. One that allows air. High. Low. Letting us see the view beyond our own existence. Nostalgic- like a white picket fence or black iron that is gated! Keeping others out but keeping us in. Fences can even help countries and become a wall like the Great Wall of China or the wall around Rome. What would your fence look like if you built one? Does you have a psychological fence around you?

NOVEMBER GIVES TIME FOR ORGANIZING AND PLANNING

The garden almost finished for the year, just need to rake leaves and perhaps clip back some more growth. Spray the paths with weed killer for the winter and I am done- I mean really done. With Adolph's knee the yard work has been all mine!! Time to do the indoor projects and organize for the coming events. Or maybe just find pockets of time to relax. The surgery and its aftermath has taken more of a toll on me than realized. So enjoyable activities like Christmas planning and blogging and crafts will bring some renewed energy back to me. Shopping at stores of choice and the joy of online shopping make the activity of Christmas purchases more manageable. If harried- gift cards! Of course getting through my first week back at work will be challenging too! Take each day at a time! Do my job and then come home!  Looking after a sick family member is not a vacation! So perhaps planning for some kind of winter vacation or real time away from work for fun will be in the future. November includes several family birthdays. So celebrations are in the works. Cake is always something to include in meals!! Remembrance day services are part of my planning too. I always like to attend the local ones. Perhaps one day I will be in Ottawa for the national one. November is the dark month with shorter and shorter days. Until there is snow that seems to add some light to the night, it can be dismal. So with the time change and some added sleep November will be approached slowly and methodically! Looking for positive outlets to renew, energize, refresh and perhaps have some interesting reflections on life. I promised one of my genealogical societies some family history articles! Researching and writing family history stuff usually takes me to another place and helps with my overall well being! One day at a time! One thing at a time! November is seeming more optimistic than originally thought! How about you? What do you have going for November?