Christmas is coming!

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day in Canada, November 11th. the day we remember all the fallen soldiers and pay tribute to them, including the ones that are still away from their families in order to “try” and keep world peace. I am an avid Facebook user and I posted the above picture on my Facebook and I was rather surprised at the reactions I got opposing my point of view. Most people including myself don’t decorate this early in the season, but there are some who do. This is only my opinion and is not meant to over-power anyone else’s thoughts but after I got the comments I did, I felt the need to say my piece, so here goes;

I will start at the beginning of the year…

1…New Year’s Eve/Day- January (Statutory/public paid holiday celebration)  …. People spend money on alcohol, party décor and food to celebrate a     new year. I have yet to see anyone having Valentines decorations adorning their homes for this celebration. We all say “Happy New Year”

2…Valentine’s Day- February….(Non-holiday non paid holiday celebration) People spend money on cards, flowers, candy, jewelry and fancy high priced restaurants. I have yet to see anyone decorate in the Irish style of St Patrick’s Day. We all say “Happy Valentine’s Day”

3… St Patrick’s Day- March…(Non-holiday non-paid celebration) no need to explain this because EVERYONE is Irish on this day and we all know what that means. I have yet to see anyone decorating eggs and having the Easter Bunny décor all set up. We all say “Happy St Paddy’s Day”

4… Easter Sunday- April…(Statutory/public paid holiday celebration).. Even those who are not religious celebrate this day for the children by having the Easter Bunny visit, yet I have never seen a Mother get flowers or candy to celebrate her special day. We all say “Happy Easter”

5… Mother’s Day- May…(Non-holiday non-paid celebration) Yes I am a Mother and I love having a special day dedicated to JUST ME, yet I have never seen any mother share her special day with the up-coming Father’s Day. We all say “Happy Mother’s Day”        

6… Father’s Day - June…(Non-holiday non-paid celebration) Yes every Father is like every Mother and they love having a day dedicated to JUST THEM. Yet I have not seen anyone decorate for this day getting ready for July 1^st Canada’s Birthday. We all say “Happy Father’s Day”

7… Canada Day- July… (Statutory/public paid holiday celebration) Canada’s birthday! We all celebrate this. It’s a very wonderful patriotic Canadian Holiday. We decorate in our countries colours and party all day and into the night. Yet I have never seen anyone decorate for the next holiday the following month. We all say “Happy Canada Day”

8…Civic Holiday- August… (Statutory/public paid holiday celebration) A holiday the government thought we deserved for who knows but various events are held to celebrate aspects of local culture, history and achievement. Many celebrations are low-key and are organized by community members It’s a holiday we all take with happiness since it’s a well-deserved holiday in our eyes. Let’s face it, who doesn’t love a paid day off! There is usually no decorating for this one, but there are plenty of parties and get together to celebrate this day. Yet I have never seen anyone decorate or celebrate the next holiday the following month. Some do say “Happy Civic Holiday” although it’s really not the norm.

9… Labour Day- September…(Statutory/public paid holiday celebration) A holiday that originally gave workers the chance to campaign for better working conditions or pay but in most people’s eyes it’s the last long weekend ending the summer season. We all have a great time and enjoy this holiday to its fullest. Yet I have never seen anyone decorate or begin to celebrate the next 2 holidays the following month. We usually all do say “Happy Labour Day”.

10…Thanksgiving- October...(Statutory/public paid holiday celebration) A bit different from the American Thanksgiving, but we still give thanks for the bountiful harvest of the growing season. People decorate with the Thanksgiving theme of turkeys and cornucopia/horn of plenty. Alongside that comes the pumpkin and apple pies. Loved ones gather around the table to give thanks for all they have. Yet I have never seen the decorations for the next celebration adorning the homes even though it’s only a few short weeks from this holiday. We all say “Happy Thanksgiving”

11...Halloween- October…(non-paid non-holiday celebration) We all know this celebration and most everyone decorates and participates for this one. People spend money on candy treats to hand out to the Trick or Treaters and some go full out decorating their homes with themed lights, frightening decorations and cries of pain and fear coming from different sound effects. Most everyone loves this celebration. We all say “Happy Halloween” This is the time everyone starts the big count down until Christmas. The stores begin to set up all the Christmas displays, people start to get in the Christmas spirit. They begin to talk and set up their Christmas house decorations and the usual talk is “have you started your Christmas shopping yet?”

12… Remembrance Day ….November.. (non-paid non-holiday celebration except for Government workers) This day is to remember the sacrifice of those two hundred thousand plus Canadian Soldiers who fought and died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they fight and die for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument. In other words they fought for our rights to have and celebrate the above holiday celebrations in the ways we have been accustomed to. There are some celebrations for the Veteran’s and the Poppy is worn to honour these brave men and women, yet the upcoming Christmas season seems to take precedence over this single day for many people.  For some of us including myself this day is held in high respect. Some find nothing wrong with setting up their Christmas decorations but I for one feel that we should respect the Veterans and Soldiers who are still fighting the fight and let them have this day in honour of all they have done and given to us so we can have those many holiday celebrations without the hustle and bustle of the upcoming Christmas season. Once this single day is over then go and decorate, talk about Christmas, have all the parties you want, just respect what this day means to our Veterans.

On the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th month, the guns fell silent

Happy Happy Happy!

Wow where has the time gone? It seems like only a few short weeks ago I could be found sitting out on the deck catching some warm sun and now that said deck is covered in leaves! Thanksgiving (for Canadians) and Halloween have passed and now the stores are filled with the sights and sounds of Christmas and our city’s annual Christmas Parade is in 3 weeks! We have escaped the early snowfalls that have occurred in Ontario so for that I am thankful. This year has certainly been filled with its fair share of highs and lows. Unfortunately it’s been filled with more lows with the passing of more than a few family members. I will be glad when 2013 makes its exit and a new year begins.

A long time ago I posted a blog about being a grandmother………………….to 2 very cute but slobbery English bull dogs. Yes I am the proud grandmother to Ava and Toot (a name well chosen). With great pleasure and lots of excitement I can now say that those slobbery, snorting bundles of joy will have to share their domain with a baby. Yes, around the date of May 3rd I am going to be a real Nana!!!!!! I have to give my daughter much credit for the way she informed me of my impending Nana-hood, she really does have a very creative mind. A few weeks ago she and her soon to be hubby came into town for a dinner get together. During the dinner she produced 3 pictures. The first one was of her, her soon to be hubby and the 2 grand-doggies. Her and hubby were holding a sign saying “and then there was 3”. I smiled that polite smile and said “ oh joy you are getting another dog.” Neither said anything as I looked at the second picture. In this picture they were both holding a sign near her belly and it said coming Mayish 2014. I looked at the picture for a minute and then up at both of them with a puzzled look. I’ll be honest, the thought did cross my mind that she was pregnant, but that vanished pretty quickly since this is the daughter that said she did not want kids, but I was also grappling with the thought that it does NOT take that long for puppies to be born. The third and final picture was the one that brought tears to my eyes. It was of her and hubby hugging with her holding baby booties! I’m never one to be left speechless but I found myself not being able to say anything for what seemed like forever. Of course once I found my voice again I did nothing but cry and congratulate them both. So yes dear Blogging friends in the early part of May 2014…I am going to be a Nana! (Can you tell I am happy?????  J)