Gramma Camp – Week 32 Sunday Awards Night

 

It's official! With day camps closed, the girls are stuck with us! I think they like the change in venue, so we'll try to have some fun. It's going to be a hot week. 

We've a busy week for home maintenance. We're getting the big jobs done before our new driveway is put in in late July. Pumping of the septic tank, chimney cleaning, repair of the car air conditioner, inspection and cleaning of the house air conditioner and furnace.  

I went downstairs to bring up my clean, dry laundry. I dare not put it out with the bugs these days. I took my camera, in order to grab a photo of the robin on the nest. The bird wasn't there. Cinnamon was. Grabbing the photo, below, I dashed out and plucked him off. He was dumped unceremoniously in the Muskoka Room.

I knew what to do. Flashing, just like around the wood duck nesting boxes. I found the heavy duty stapler, briefly thinking I ought to grab the staple refills, but shook that thought off. duH. Beginning my work, of course I ran out of staples! Back into the garage, but of course the case was not there. I took the stapler with me in order to remember that which I sought. (My deteriorating brain cells!) Into the house. Not there. Down into the basement. Yes, it was there in my toolbox. I even remembered to take the stapler back with me. Ta Da!

They are here! The hostage exchange went well and they were home by 4:30. I put dinner in the oven. Josephine has virtual French Horn lessons on Mondays. 

After dinner (tourtière, cooked peas and carrots), the girls were sent to the living room until we were ready for the event. Grampa brought the surprise cakes in and lit the candles. One for each girl, and they will last all week.

The girls were escorted back into the dining room with the helicopter/school bus for the last time, Grampa making the whoop-whoop sounds for the last time this year.

There were graduation cards, and both girls burned themselves on the candles. Sigh. (Cold water bath is the remedy!)

Shoeless Joe presented some of his traditional knock-knock jokes. Then, the awards were presented.

The awards were fun, and included treats. 

1. Isabelle received an award for "advanced physics experimentation for proving a cloaking device." One Friday, on her to our car to load it up, she walked right by the car and went into the garage. 

2. Josephine received an award for "advanced physics for work on concept of absolute zero in relation to temperature variation in a normal spectrum." She declared that it's not that it is cold, but it is the absence of heat.

3. Isabelle received another award for "biomatter experimentation for disbursement and separation of organic matter from a solid object." (She cleans her dessert place very, very well!

4.Josee's award for "historical large creative ordering for naming of relics on low surface dimensions." She is continually challenging her sister to name all the dinosaurs on her placemat.

5. My award was for "support, encouragement and all round stories!" They both like my Gramma Stories!

6. Josephine announced her Grampa's award orally, for entertainment director, etc. It was very touching, and a big hug ensued.

grad awards from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Awards and heroes: we must remember the fallen who live in terrible conditions

I have been reflecting on awards lately. Many disciplines offer awards. Many bloggers present an award to another blogger. Fishing Guy has many, and rightly so, he has a delightful blog! Many post a message saying 'thanks, but no thanks'. The Canadian blogger awards have been in full force lately.

My question is this:
How can we judge that someone has gone above and beyond what is expected, and produced something that exceeds that which we deserve, expect, or demand from those who are paid of volunteer to do the jobs that they perform?

Let me provide an example.

This past week, after Remembrance Day ceremonies across Canada, medals were awarded by the Governor General, the queen's representative in Canada. The full list of medals awarded is here: Official news release and list of recipients.

"In an Ottawa ceremony, Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean presented soldiers with three different medals of distinction: one Star of Military Valour; 10 medals of Military Valour to those who have displayed devotion to duty in combat; and six Meritorious Service Crosses and 31 Meritorious Service Medals for achievements in military service." the CBC reports.

With soldiers, like this, whose live are forever changed, I find it fascinating that we give awards to those who have shown leadership in positions of authority, but isn't that what they are paid to do? What about those struggling with physical, social, mental or emotional wounds?

Slow, but staggering progress

Through raw determination, his fiancée's love and modern neuroscience, Captain Trevor Greene is learning to walk again almost four years after an axe attack

I heard this story 4 years ago, but hadn't kept up with it. I guess the media has not, either. During negotiations in Afghanistan, an insurgent snuck up behind him and sunk an axe in his head. What a horror. The physiotherapy is agonizing, But what bothers me are the stories his wife tells of the doctors who told him to give up. But that is another issue.

I can understand soldiers earning the Star of Military Valour, or the Medal of Military Valour. Stories abound of those who risk personal injury to rescue others, or civilians. But why does the Military award "Meritorious Service Medals" (MSM) for those who are commanding a team? Surely the awards comes in their high salaries (not so for the less well paid soldiers), and in promotions. One of the 31 MSMs went to a Major "for commanding the Air Capability Activation Team in Afghanistan from June 2008 to January 2009."

What about the soldiers who go back to Afghanistan, having served one term of duty? What about the families who live their lives hoping not to have that dreaded visit, as they are informed of the death of a loved one is a tragic cost of this engagement.

My husband's father (pictured in the shadow box with his medals), having come home from liberating troops from one of the death camps, had his hair turn white. It was a horrible experience for a young man.

Better still, the question I ask, why are we putting our young men and women in these positions in this day and age? I bow in honour at their courage, being in the front lines, trying to build schools and hospitals, teaching Afghannies how to patrol their towns and villages, but is the cost of 133 men and women worth it? To see these soldiers coming home, and the impact on their families as they suffer from stress, or full-blown PTSD, breaks my heart. The nightmares must be awful for many. 

Some of our vets from WW II are homeless, and on the streets. Both in Canada, and the USA. Stats, according to homelessnation.org, are scant for Canada, but the (US) National Coalition for Homeless Veterans says that the Dep't of Veteran Affairs tells them,
The vast majority are single, most come from poor, disadvantaged communities, 45 percent suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems.

They are uncertain how many men and women are homeless as a result of these issues, but they estimate that 130,000 in the US (including 4% females) are on the streets. This is the cost of war, when we allow substance abuse and mental illness affect our soldiers. With inadequate treatment of addictions, the resulting cost to society is worse than tragic. It is immoral.

HOMELESS VETERANS ON THE STREETS OF AMERICA
	2 min 40 sec - 25 Mar 2007 -  ( www.vawatchdog.org )From the CBS Evening News, Sunday, March 25, 2007.

Surely we have learned the cost of war? And even more assuredly, the cost of attempting to help a nation move into the new millennium. The valiant attempts to help Afghanistan create a democracy, with a history of tribes, tribal wars, and a civil policing force that is susceptible to corruption, fear, cultural practices, and abuse, is just plain wrong. 

Working for a living

I most admire those who must get up every day, perhaps ferry kids to and from a day care provider, and do their boring, or challenging jobs with little reward, other than monetary, and some difficulties.

This ducky mom knows how to move her charges: she swims around them in a circle until they get in formation. Her day care centre is our Flower Rock. I can remember running after kids to get them out the door. What a time. But nap times were my favourite times. A few minutes in the day when all is peaceful, and all of us paused. They trusted me enough to let me get pretty close, one eye opened!

By the time you have gotten up every day for 20+ years it gets both easier and more difficult. The kids grow and become more independent, vacation times increase, and you become better at what you do. That is why I liked teaching. While there is a rhythm to the seasons, the rituals and the traditions or celebrations. Each classroom community was different and each day was a challenge. Having three kids meant I really didn't have the 'summer off', but it was a nice myth. It was juggling all the stakeholders priorities that drove me nuts!

For those who put in a 12-hour day, flagging is another long job with many stakeholders, 'scuse the pun! I have heard parents talk of their young people who find this job hard to manage! What a long day simply standing. I cannot imagine standing up for hours through rain, snow, sleet, bugs, hot summer sun and tourist season. Every driver is the expert on how you should do your job. This was a pose I could not resist.

Let me preface this by saying we do not honour volunteers enough. Volunteers are our unsung heroes.

Fortunately, the nightingale sang in Port Carling last night. Our township's elected and employed individuals highlighted those who gave of themselves through Gardens in Bloom, skating, Meals on Wheels, and many other avenues for giving back to one's community.

These awards occur every two years. I present you some brief snapshots of the celebration in Muskoka Lakes.

Mari and Jack and Linda, Bala volunteers.

My husband, Brian, and many in attendance.

Mark Clairmont took time to get them organized. Finally, they all settled! It was like herding cats.

The paparazzi were fun, capturing the moment, too.

It was a good time to visit and get reacquainted with one another.
Brian and Keith, both Meals on Wheels volunteers have a chat. Keith is famous at the Bala Legion. A continual volunteer; driving or organising, or driving the organisation. A former parachutist in WW II, he has lived well and long, often delivering services to those younger than he!