Colonoscopy

This may seem like a bad topic for a blog but I feel obligated to recognize the importance of this procedure.This morning I had my regular procedure as it was five years since the last one. My Mother was a victim of Colan cancer and it would have been preventative had they (Dr's.) had the procedures in place at that time. Today everyone had the ability to read and understand that this is the second greatest killer cancer and is 99% preventable.

While I was in the Dr. office I read the statistics for Ontario. Over 7500 cases a year and over 2500 deaths. There is one simple reason for this cancer to be so deadly, ignorance and apathy. A half hour procedure, painless and performed in a clinic or hospital setting could save your life. If by chance during the procedure a polyp is discovered it is eliminated right there. What could be easier. A polyp could develop into cancer in ten years or earlier. You may have a sedative to ease the tension but I chose not too for the last two times and was able to walk out half an hour after the procedure. If your Dr. does not perscribe a colonoscopy when you turn fifty or even forty if there is a history in the family of cancer of this type, ask for it.

It gives me a good feeling to walk out of the clinic and realize that I am safe from this problem for five years. I have a legion of friends who hide away from this obligation because of the nature of the procedure. The alternative is not pretty to you or your family so get up and get busy and make sure you are protected from this #2 cancer. This add is sponsored by children and friends of people who are neglecting their responsibility.Because of the nature of this topic....no pictures are available.

Senior Moments

Have you ever second guessed yourself about important issues?I left Florida in a big hurry and had a check list a mile long. As I completed each task I stroked it off. The list was down to the stage where you shut off all the services and make sure the alarm system is working and the bug control program is ready to be actuated as you scamper out of the house and wait to hear the signal that all is well. This year it did not happen just like that. At the very last moment before leaving our home I started all the spray cans to control the bugs and spiders when we are away. This time however I turned on one can right under a fire alarm. As I closed the door for what I thought was the final time I heard this horrible signal.....the spray actuated the fire alarm.

Not to worry I had a minute to go back in and turn off the offending alarm. On re-entering I was met with this powerful smell of bug spray and my eyes quickly watered. I did find the main security box but it read..police on the way. I reset the alarm and made my way out leaving my hot chocolate and melting arctic bar on the kitchen counter. Once outside I  decided enough was enough so I never went back for my travelling treats,

Knowing that the police were on their way I waited by my van hoping to see the police arriving with guns pointed and prepared to arrest me. They never came for a reasonable time so I headed to Canada at about 1.30 am. When I arrived home and on the trip home I constantly questioned myself and retraced every step. Theresa made it even worse by asking about several things which made my anxiety rise to an unacceptable level. Incidentally the police did arrive and my neighbour handled the situation for me. Because of these uncertain moments we decided to go back down for a week of R and R and to make sure this time everything is perfect. When you work as a team and one member is missing it brings a new dynamic to everything you do. We depend upon each other and don't realize it until we are apart. Thank our lucky stars we are not apart very often.

Family Weekend

Long weekends have their charm when it permits a gathering of family members who have not seen each other for a few months. In our family we have to deal with geography. We are scattered over Ontario and take advantage of every opportunity to gather. This weekend is really the first chance to welcome the summer season and what better way than coming together and like the flowers of spring  to renew our family ties.

This year we were not able to welcome everyone of the clan as special interests took some of our family to far away places and they were missed. I recall saying at our last get together that this may be one of the last times we will all be together in one place. With widening responsibilities and interests it is difficult if not impossible to schedule such an event. What we wish for is to keep the thought of togetherness and think of the ones who are missing in person.

In my family of siblings we were never all together as a family at one time. It was circumstances that carried our family into distant parts of Canada for work and to make our way into the world. Funerals and weddings brought some of us together occasionally and home visits always bring those who live close by a chance to catch up on the news and to welcome new ones to the circle. From the beginning with only Mom and Dad I hardly believe they thought it would create such a huge network of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

It is these branching out events which create a widening gene pool and a social network which brings strength to a family. As we enjoyed our few days together it is always a little sad when they end and everyone goes home but the memories of these gatherings bring strength to the family and a desire for more of the same.

Late Spring

This year is really beginning to be a year of unusual weather. We have had rain in nearly every day so far in May and my family in the Mari  times say that is true for their area as well. For the trees and green stuff it is great but for the farmers waiting to get on their fields it is quickly becoming  problematic. The ground is saturated and the heavy equipment cannot traverse the land.

Everywhere across the land there seems to be floods, unusual weather and a bleak forecast for the fall harvest. The fruit growers are delighted but a late crop sets them back as well . Walking out in my backyard yesterday morning I was surprised that the overnight rain caused our three small ponds to overflow.The ground was so wet I could not cut the grass and some of the neighbours had water in their basements.

This year there is one positive. It is the number of honey bees on our fruit trees. In spite of the wet weather the overnight temperatures remain relatively warm caused by the overcast sky. This is a good thing as two years ago we had cold weather and few or no bees to do their job. In spite of this situation it is remarkable how quickly everything is able to change. One week of sunshine with a breeze will dry the fields and make us forget the past rain and inclement weather

Plant Not People Time

Since we have been home there has been only a few days that you could really call people days. Rain, fog, mist, cold and miserable weather. However the upside is that the plant world loves this fresh start to spring. The grass is perfect, the trees are blooming, the tulips are hanging around for a few extra weeks and all in all nature loves this refreshing rain that quenches the thirst of plants. All winter the plants wished for a good drink and if you did not make sure that they had plenty of water before the frost , they longed for what we are getting.

I am amazed at the strawberries and fruit trees which need that rain water and their thanks comes in the form of a spectacular show of blossoms. I cannot recall a spring as cool or rainy as this one but I cannot recall a spring where our plants and trees look so healthy. Today in the rain I grabbed my dandelion knife and made the rounds and was hard pressed to find enough to justify my safari in the rain.

Nature is a wonderful kingdom and marches to it's own drummer. Aboriginal people with who I lived with for five years told me often that every living organism had a spiritual presence. I observed this phenomenon and I agreed with them that nature has a rhythm which made more sense than the man made institutions of churches, religions and man made theory's which neglected common sense. We as people have this feeling that we have to put man ahead of the natural  order of things.

I guess I am true to my calling and realize the comfort I exact in being part of nature and all that is real and not mans desire to be superior to the nature order of natural phenomena.

Detroit Red Wings

Since 1946 I have followed the Detroit Red Wings Hockey Team. All those years there was a good reason to do so because they had a standard of performance matched only by the Montreal Canadians and sometime Toronto Maple Leafs. Their team was one which depended on the loyalty of it's fans and players. Many of the team played the majority of their career with the Wings only. This brought a measure of security and trust which resulted in success ofter success.

Some of the greatest players who ever laced up skates came from this organization. Gordie Howe probably is among that elite group who are called Mr. Hockey in their respective organization. Tonight they have a opportunity to do what only a few other teams have done; come back from a three game deficit to win in seven with four straight wins. Regardless of the outcome they have captured the imagination of the hockey fans everywhere and tonight they will end the game with a certain respect given to those who stand a little above the crowd. They are the Red Wings you know.

Being Canadian

Driving home from Florida this year was a little different as I was alone with my GPS partner who kept me on the correct road. I had time to think and talk to myself and I ended up thinking about being a Canadian. As I crossed the border at Buffalo there was a certain feeling about being home. I felt safer, and relieved to be travelling on our roads with our security.

I was coming home to a federal election. NHL playoffs, some health issues in our family and a garden to be nurtured back to the standard I like. All this is part of being a Canadian. Without a conscious effort I compare events outside Canada with how it would be in Canada. Without exception I feel the strength of our way of life and our connection to our institutions are far and away superior to those found abroad.

Although we have become closer in some ways to our American counterparts we are distinct in a clear way when it comes to how we perceive our responsibility for our fellow Canadians. We feel for our poor, our sick, our disadvantaged because of education or circumstances beyond their control and we share like no other country in partnering to come to the aid of people in need around the world.

Our Canada must always be wary of leaders who would attempt to lead us away from this blue chip way of life and into circumstances that would make us less sensitive to the global community and our responsibility to be a leader in securing a better way of life for those less fortunate. Several issues come to mind where Canada made commitments to end the AIDS epidemic in Africa and the world move to control negative environmental issues.

We are major contributors to the problem of producing green house gasses in our desire to produce oil to meet the hungry world needs. These Canadian natural resources are being gobbled up by foreign interests without receiving much benefit except some jobs.

The third issue is clean water. There should be a clear national policy on fresh water and soon,  as water will be more precious than oil in the near future. We are sewards of a large portion of this resource and it should be shared in a meaningful way to benefit Canadians and the whole world.

Being Canadian is very exciting as we can be big players in the global scheme of things. Our young people have a challenge and a share in this great future.