Thinking About Canada and Canadians

Thoughts on November 11:

While watching the CBC broadcast from Ottawa, I was impressed by the participation and inclusion of  embassies from around the world, from America to Zimbabwe.  I wondered if the War Memorial would run out of space for the wreaths deposited.

For some reason this was the biggest observation of November 11 across Canada.  Perhaps the recent involvement in Afghanistan contributed to the national outpouring of thanks and appreciation of those who put their lives on the line.

I was further impressed by the gracious treatment of the Governer General's grandaughters in the reception line, as though Canada's inclusion had rubbed off on our visitors.

Hurricane Sandy and the subsequent storm caused such problems with the utilities, Canadian Municipalities dispatched their own crews and equipment to the US east coast to assist in bringing order and service to stricken municipalities.  They no sooner got things up and running from Sandy, when the nor'easter hit, and Canadian crews had to rescue the US crews because they couldn't deal with the snow, and restore operation, again!

Remembered the words of an American grateful for Canadian crews in the US because of the storms: "Who would have thought it would take the Canucks to know what to do and arrive equipped to bail us out."

Capable, inclusive and accepting.  In his acceptance speech, Obama said that in this term of office, he would work so Americans have more of these qualities.  On November 11 we exhibited the qualities of graciousnous and we were gentle.

Do you think we get something very important 'right' and could be considered world leaders in emotional quotient?

Glorious Summer

Like anyone else, I complain about the weather.  Let's face it, we live in a country of extremes from    -40c (without the windchill) in the winter, to the +51c (including the humidex) of the other day.  That was indeed hot.

However, starting with the monsoon we called spring that drearily went on forever to the recent tropical blast of heat, this year's weather has contributed to glorious, lush vegetation. 

Out and about I can see the fabulous wild flowers in the ditches.  It brought to mind England's hedgerows and wheat fields strewn with red poppies I saw a few years ago.  There is a difference.  Instead of England's poppies and hedgerows of many different flowering bushes, Canadian ditches offer vibrant orange Tiger Lilies, delicate Queen Anne's Lace, the unaptly named vibrant blue Viper's Bugloss and a yellow flower whose name escapes me.  The fields offer Daisies and a yellow flower I think is Tansy (it's early).

There are the grasses!  Starting early in summer as grass starts to grow and poke its flowers above the general level of the other vegetation, the roadsides and ditches are painted with different shades of green.  Each type of grass is a different colour and the delicate flowers and seed heads are bushy to feathery in colours and hues of brown, rust and a tawny shade.  Clumps or streaks of colour the along the sides of the road and in the ditches create patches of varying shades and texture.  They are tempting to photograph, but as I try, I am reminded of the brain's ability to focus and tune the eye so it sees only what it wants to see but the camera sees everything and the grasses are lost in the general jumble and disappear.

I am looking forward to the Hollyhocks planted along the roadsides by the birds, or rural homeowners with a sense of humour that will soon bloom by mailboxes, creating another riot of colour.  Small birds love the seed heads.

One day, when I have time, I am going to learn to paint and capture the grasses and their flowers.