The Empty School Bus

Yesterday, I met an empty school bus on the street. That encounter brought back memories of my own school busing days and summer vacation. I remember the feeling I would get in the summer when an empty bus would pass by our house. I was happy that I didn't have to worry about missing the bus or if I had done my homework. I would always have a moment of panic wondering if I had in fact missed the bus before I would remember that school was out for the summer. Although I was one of those kids who always enjoyed school, I also loved my summer vacation. That empty bus driving by would reinforce the notion to enjoy the summer, and have as much fun as you can because in two months, the bus would be back for me. It would serve as a reminder that school would indeed start again and made my summer off even sweeter! Enjoying those long, lazy, carefree days of summer as a empty bus drives by your house . . . it's a good thing!

Well, Hello Sunset!

Our province is known for its beautiful sunsets. While we appreciate their beauty, I now realize that we often take our gorgeous sunsets for granted. Our summer has been so rainy and cloudy and I had not seen a sunset for weeks, until I saw one the other night, As I admired its beauty, it suddenly struck me that this was the first sunset I had enjoyed in a long time - and I had not realized that I was missing it until it came back in its full glory! Maybe this is why Mother Nature has sent us all these weeks and weeks of cloudy skies: to make us stop and appreciate the sunsets she provides for our enjoyment. By taking away, and then giving back, something beautiful, we learn to appreciate and notice it. She is a sly one, that Mother Nature! Now that I realize how few sunsets we have seen this summer, I miss them. Suddenly understanding that weeks of cloudy weather makes you truly appreciate and look forward to a beautiful sunset . . . . it's a good thing!

Summer Days, Hot Weather and . . .Winter Catalogues?

A couple weeks ago, I received my Sears winter catalogue! Winter catalogue! In June! Every year, I am amazed that winter catalogues arrive in June. Which, of course, means that the Christmas catalogue arrives in September. Of course, the arrival of the winter catalogue signals the start of the summer clothing sales in all the stores - almost before summer has even started! For people like me, this is probably a good thing. I'm not really a "shop till you drop" type , so by the time I start thinking that I really need summer clothes (sometime in June or July), it is already on sale in order make room for the winter clothes (which I will buy in December by which time they go on sale to make room for the spring clothes). I don't plan to shop only when clothes is on sale, it just happens that by the time I get around to it, store owners are already eyeing the next season. So, really, it is a win-win situation all around: I get clothes I need, which just happen to be on sale because I've procrastinated and the stores get to clear items so they have room for next season's styles. Hmmm, it is a perfect world, after all! Buying clothes - in season - at end-of-season prices . . . it's a good thing!

Mud Puddle Therapy

What is it about children and mud puddles? Why do children so love playing in cold, dirty water? I remember how I loved to play in mud puddles when I was little. I could never understand why adults would get so upset when we got wet and dirty. My city was recently hit with a powerful storm. The strong wind uprooted trees, ripped off shingles and caused a great deal of property damage. The rain came down so hard that people who were driving had to pull over and stop because they couldn't see. Over the last couple days, people have been hauling away trees and branches, repairing the damage to their homes and assessing the damage. I notice, however, that the children are oblivious to the damage and are just happy to have mud puddles to play in. Maybe we should all put our rakes, hammers and saws down and play in the mud puddles with our children. I think sometimes we forget that it's ok to have fun, even when there is work to do and even when your home and property need repair. Maybe that's one of the most important reasons God invented children - to remind us to have fun and to laugh. Acting like a kid and jumping in mud puddles . . . it's a good thing!

The First Day of Summer Vacation

The first day of summer holidays is the most special! Whether you have one or two weeks off , or the entire summer, nothing is better than waking up on that first day and realizing you're free to do whatever you want. After a couple of days, you get used to the feeling, but that first day . . . it's wonderful! Your entire holiday stretches out in before you. You can contemplate all that you will accomplish before it is over. You have not yet reached that "panic" stage, where you realize your holidays are almost over and you have not finished even half of your "to do" list. No, on that beautiful first morning, it feels like your vacation will last forever and that you have all the time in the world to do whatever needs to be done. My wish to those of you who read my blog is that you have a wonderful summer holiday, but even more I hope you truly enjoy that first unique day. Soak in the freedom, along with the sun, smell the flowers in your garden, stroll through a park, enjoy of leisurely coffee. The perfect first day of a wonderful vacation . . . it's a good thing!

My Friend, the Scrapper!

My friend B is a scrapper! A scrap-booker, that is, and a very talented one at that! Her pages are magical; there simply is no other way to explain it! I envy her ability to bring a page to life the way she does. She is also a photographer. Of course, with her talent and her artistic eye, her pictures are beautiful. Whether it is a wedding that she is shooting or her beloved dog that she is taking pictures of, her photos are works of art. Add to her talents the fact that she is an excellent writer. Her journaling is so poignant and heartfelt, and B's emotions are laid bare in each page. She takes her beautiful pictures, transforms them into breath-taking scrapbook pages and then adds her words to each page, thus creating her pages of memories. Each page is created with love and tells the stories of the people who are important to B - her husband, her son, her parents, and friends and family. I find myself reading her journaling on each page many times. Her words and her visuals truly touch the reader's heart and soul. A friend whose creativity provides nourishment for the soul and beauty for the eyes . . . it's a good thing!

Happy Birthday, Canada!

Happy Birthday, Canada! Every year, I love this country more and more. As my city becomes a destination point for more immigrants each year, and I have the opportunity through work to speak to them, I realize how very fortunate I am to be Canadian. The young fellow working in a grocery store or the woman working at a fast food restaurant have lived through horrors that we cannot even begin to imagine. They, in turn, cannot believe the freedoms and the wealth that we have here. They are in awe of our social programs, our health care and our education system. Many cannot believe that anyone and everyone can go to school - girls and boys, rich and poor - and that is it paid for by the government, and that there is no tuition. We take so many of these things for granted! All four of my grandparents came from France to start a new life in Canada. Over the last couple years, I have found myself often thinking of their bravery and determination, and I am so thankful that they took the risk of coming to this new country so many years ago. I have such a good life here, thanks to these four risk-takers. Sometimes it scares me a little to think that a twist of fate could have led to my being born somewhere else. Many of us living in Canada are descendants of immigrants. On Canada Day especially, we should take the time to reflect on how fortunate we are that our ancestors decided to build their lives here. Being Canadian . . . it's a good thing, eh!