Seasons in the Sun, A New Job, Blogging and Marital Bliss, Stories and thoughts for yet another few weeks in and around the Carr house.
Seasons
What is it about this time of year that makes me struggle with energy? Something about wanting to curl up in the fetal position and, as the bears do, hibernate for a few months. The semester is underway at school, and things are ticking along ok, but as the temperature dips, the winds build and start to cause the already colouring leaves to twist and turn and fall to the ground, the weather plays havoc with me.
I have always been a fan of the beginning, or Spring and Summer combination rather than the end, or Fall / Winter part of the year. You can’t have one without the other, and I get the necessity or need to regenerate, but if I could, I would be thrilled with 12 Aprils or 12 Junes in any given year. Honestly, I don’t mind moving my birthday to say, June 1st. I will even round up, and add a year to my age, if somehow we could collectively find a way to maintain the green, warm months and eliminate the darker, cooler months. If you come up with something, just let me know.
Congratulations
Wanted to say great job and congratulations to Nathalie for landing a new job. After her first week of punching a different clock, I can report that she loves it, and is enjoying not only the free coffee from the fancy bar-code machine, but also the atmosphere and the people. It is a much smaller company than she is used to, but I think the difference you can make, as an employee in a very small pond is way bigger in the end.
Blogging
When I started blogging, I did it for nothing more than a record or diary of the comings and goings of the family and me. All my posts are from the heart and real accounts of the life with the Carrs. Some are funny, some are a little deep, most easy to read and digest but all are written in my voice. One of my most personal blogs was the post I wrote the week of my Mom’s death September 2010 – My Mom the Fighter, a Prayer, the Call and Powerful Word.
A few weeks ago, after re-posting a link to it, I received a reader comment, and in doing so, I have connected with another blogger. This is the email I received from Heather Von St. James.
“Hi Jim! Thanks for emailing me. The reason I have reached out to you is because of your blog! I am 43 and a mother to a quirky little 7 year old, Lily. She is my only child, and my whole world. When Lily was just 3 1/2 months old, I was diagnosed with Mesothelioma; a type of cancer that kills 90-95% of those who have it. As I’m sure you can imagine, the first thing that came to mind when I was diagnosed was my baby girl and how I wasn’t going to be able to watch her grow up.”
That was a sad start, but Heather went on to tell me the wonderful news of her now 6 ½ year survivor title, and how she blogs to share her story and message, not only about her journey but also to pass on information about this horrible, completely preventable form of cancer – Mesothelioma. So for the first time ever, I am pointing you to another voice in the blogosphere. Please visit her blog – http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/heather
Wedding
I have been to a whole bunch of weddings this past year and each time, it is nice to see love 
from different perspectives. I am often working, so it was so great to be just a guest for once. This past Saturday, Nathalie and the girls and I visited the oldest Catholic Church in Toronto – St. Paul’s Basilica and marveled at the beautiful architecture and designs and statues of so many years ago. It was a lovely service and after dropping the kids off with Oma, it was great to boogie the night away with our friends and their whole family, celebrating their daughters’ wedding day. Nathalie said it best, when she told me, “I use to watch the Bride at a wedding and think of my own wedding but now that I have girls, I only picture them in white dresses.”
In Closing
I love the girls and just about each and every day they show me, among other things, that they do give love and receive love. Sometimes, however, while doing so, they challenge each other a little too. On the morning of the wedding, while getting ready to go, Julia decided to take (without asking) Jordyn’s, black fancy shoes. This did not sit well with number 1, and she showed her displeasure by first yelling, then crying. Julia put on her, “I don’t care” face, and seemed shocked that Jordyn would cry over shoes. I calmly put on my dad voice and said, “Julia, think about it, if she took YOUR shoes without asking you, I bet you would be upset and cry too!” With righteous indignation she said, “Ah ya, I would NOT cry over shoes, maybe pout a little but certainly not cry!”
Pouting myself, a little over shoes and the dark and dreary weather.
Thanks for reading, have a safe a great week.
Jim