Dear 2022,
I have big hopes for you... hopes that you will be nice and boring... and somewhat normal. I had hopes for 2021 and that didn't quite work out. We were fooled for a while but ended back in 2020 mode before the year end.
2022, can we agree to start on a bad foot, with the promise that we will finally get out of this? Thanks, I knew that you would get it....
Happy New Year 💖
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas in the middle of Covid wave #4... or is it #5... #6? In any case, I never thought that we would still be in it... but we are. May your holidays be filled with blessings and gratitude- it is all we have.
I am blessed and thankful that I managed to get the boys to pose for a Christmas photo 😉 Hey, this is quite a feat so I will take it 😉
xox
On December 6, 1989, I was putting my tool belt in my locker at school. I was in my second year of CEGEP and studying technical theatre. We were putting together our winter theatre production and my role for this semester was electrician- a job that I loved. It challenged me both mentally and physically. I was the only female on the crew and proud of it. It was a tough job- something that I had never expected to do in the past- but I enjoyed learning new skills, having a great time and felt that the world was at my feet.
Someone came into our locker room and said that there had been a shooting at the Polytechnique at the Université de Montréal. A man went into classrooms and shot students. News in 1989 wasn't the same as now and information came out slowly. I went home to my grandmother frantically trying to reach me on the telephone... she heard was that there was a shooting... in a technical program... and that women had died.
On December 6, 1989, 14 women went to school to study engineering. They felt challenged both mentally and physically. They were the future of engineering and proud of it. It was a tough program- something they may not have expected to do in the past- but they were enjoying learning new skills, having a great time and felt that the world was at their feet.
I came home to a phone call... they did not come home.
I will always remember....
Please note that I said rainy and not snowy. Yes, I am counting each non snowy day as a blessing 😉 Since we had the time change, it has been getting darker and darker on the way home but the downtown lights look pretty festive... especially since we are just getting used to being back in the city again. Not that we are out of the covid-cloud yet but things seem to be returning- even if it is just a little bit- back to normal again.
Wishing you all health and happiness from Montreal... rain and all xox
Today is Alexander's 17th birthday!! I cannot believe that he is one short year away from being a legal adult. He is in college, playing football with guys who have full beards and is close to leaving us with only one car. Alexander now stays up later than me and has a way more active social life with his friends than I do. Some days I look at him and wonder who the young man in front of me is and where that little boy went to... and then he will say something goofy and I know that the little guy is still there... under those muscles and facial hair. Happy birthday to our first born!!! We wish you a wonderful 17th year!!!
Today is Canadian Thanksgiving, which always gets me thinking about what I am most thankful for...
I am thankful for my family.
I am thankful for the love in our home.
I am thankful for my friends.
I am thankful for health.
I am thankful that I live in a country where I can raise my boys and not worry about wars that will claim them or that I am unable to keep them safe and healthy.
I am thankful for our neighbourhood where our children can play outside and be kids.
I am thankful for soccer and the wonderful women that I have met over the years.
I am thankful for sunshine and warm air.
I am thankful for the autumn leaves and cosy sweaters.
I am thankful for a job that positively challenges me and colleagues that make the day to day fun.
I am thankful for quiet time while enjoying my morning cup of coffee or evening glass of wine.
I am thankful for good food and good travels.
I am thankful for all those who volunteer so that my sons may be active and involved.
I am thankful that people still come by to read my blog even if I have not been so good at tending to it.
Happy Thanksgiving! xox
This blog has become kind of quiet over the past two years because 1) the boys are not into having their pictures taken anymore and 2) they usually hide out in the basement with their headphones on ;) Not an interesting blog post ;)
Oliver, being eleven years old and not quite teenager yet, can still be lured out to do things (sometimes) and, today, he was into going fishing with Andreas. Lucky me, I got to stay home and clean. I wonder who got the better morning activity? ;)
Happy Sunday xox
