At the going down of the sun and in the morning...

... we will remember them.

After Mom passed just over two years ago, I discovered some holidays were harder to get through than others. Parents leave their marks on them differently...

This is my first Remembrance Day without my Dad.



I cherish the Canadian flag. My father signed up to defend it, as a proud first generation Canadian just short of his 22nd birthday. And when he passed in May after his 89th birthday, the V.A. covered his body with that flag, he had earned that honour... He was the very example of the values Canadians cherish. My father was compassionate, honest, hard-working, respectful and tolerant of differences.

My Dad, Trooper Frank Dixon (first from the left)

My father is my hero.



I am Canadian. And on this 11th day, of the 11th month at the 11th hour, my daughter and I will be bowing our heads in Remembrance. I will wrap myself in Daddy's Legion sweater and think back to the thousands of soldiers, heroes, who died in the service of my country. They fought for their homeland, their families, to right injustices, for the weak and defenseless and so that Peace may be returned to the world. And I will remember the people who live in war ravaged countries, and ask that Peace be restored to them. I like to imagine that those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and the veterans who have passed will be uniting and doing their best from heaven to work for Peace, each one of them a guardian angel for the troops who serve today.

The Ode of Remembrance

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.

In what has become tradition for me... I repost the following:

I cry…

For the men and women who died, fighting for our Nation, for my freedom and the freedom of others…
For the mothers and fathers who have lost their sons and daughters in the fight for Peace…
For the men and women who have lost their soul mate…
For the children, those who are left behind… and those who shall never come to be…
For the friends who are left with only memories…
For those who have no PEACE…
For those who forget what makes the sacrifice so meaningful...
For those who miss so many important moments of everyday life because they are fighting for justice... the first step, the first tooth, the first goal, the first school play…
For my country, for we have lost so many fine Canadians…
For those who died alone... and for those who are buried so far from home...
For those who confuse their opinions on war and the respect and appreciation owed for the sacrifice of our soldiers...
For those who have lost their brothers and sisters in arms and parts of themselves...
For those who will not take the time to remember…


For my father who gave me life and unconditional love... for him I shall work for Peace...

This is one of the best Remembrance tributes I have seen... and I've seen many.



God keep all the men and women who serve their countries safe. If you see a veteran or a member of the military on this day, remember to extend your hand in thanks. It's the least you can do.

For Ashley Caffrey who is deployed abroad, stay safe. You are loved.
For Matt Caffrey, who serves stateside and is raising a fine boy, thank you.

This post is brought to you by the letter S and the number 40

For another birthday post, scroll down.

Once upon a time, a little girl in pigtails was lying on her stomach watching TV.

And the whole world opened up for her.

She improved her English... she even learned some Spanish. She learned big words, like Snuffleupagus and ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ (phonetically known as Abcedeckicheckelmonokwerstuweitsyz). She learned to love monsters (even the ones that say "Wubba Wubba"). She was encouraged to use her imagination. She learned to count with a Count. She learned her ABCs and that C stands for all sorts of Cool stuff like Cookies... and CAKE. She developed compassion because she found out that being green and different isn't always easy, but it can be beautiful.

And she made some forever friends.

To the fine people (and monsters...) on Sesame Street, thank you... and Happy 40th birthday!

You made mine and my daughter's childhoods most magical. You taught both of us to stand up, and sing... out loud! That we, all the kids who watched, mattered. We KNOW how to get to Sesame Street.

I'm sharing many clips with you... feel free to watch any you want. It's good to share, they taught me THAT too!

Memories



Imagination



Being Green



The sillies are fun



The longest word *grin*



The Count and Cookie Monster bring you - cooperation, another great C word



Grover and Christopher talk about LOVE


"What kind of people can you love?" "Any kind."

Rest in Peace Mr Hooper (Will Lee), I still miss you. Kids learned it's ok to be sad... but when we remember, the people we love live on. And some things happen just because.

a celebration of beginnings... and remembrance

As we prepare for tomorrow's Remembrance Day (in Canada) and Veterans Day (in the U.S.) we roll out a CAKE in celebration of the United States Marine Corps, a fine institution serving proudly and with Honor since 1775.

Marines of the 28th Regiment of the 5th Division Raise the American Flag Atop Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, 1945
Joe Rosenthal ©The Associated Press

Thank you, Matt. It's a priviledge to know you.


On this, the anniversary of their beginning... I will take a few minutes to remember those who have fallen. For them, I truly believe it was not an ending, but the beginning of a new journey.

Semper Fi



For a truly wonderful post about The Marines, visit Travis... he has the spirit of those fine men and women down to a T

remembering... peace... freedom

It's been an emotional journey...



I've visited so many Peace Bloggers over the past few days. I'm still not done. The great thing about that is that it means that so many participated in this community effort for Peace.



For me, the BlogBlast for Peace was the first day in what is shaping up to be a very important and moving time.



On this day, in 1938, Germany was filled with fire and hate. It was one of the worst demonstrations of the hatred that can fill a human heart... hate that comes from fear and lack of understanding - Kristallnacht. It lasted two days... but it was one event in a long series of human tragedies.

Synagogues were destroyed, windows broken... shards of glass were everywhere.



I strongly encourage you to listen to Johanna (Gerechter) Neumann, a Holocaust survivor, as she shares her account of Kristallnacht. She was just a few years younger than my daughter is now. We can never forget what hate and fear can do.

"When we Jews talk about the Torah scrolls, this is the basis of our belief. This is the basis of our observance. This is the basis of our lives. This was thrown into the streets. It was torn up. It was desecrated by hordes of people who had absolutely lost all respect of any other people’s religion. It works itself right into the fact that you hate for the sake of hating, but you really don’t know why you are hating."
-Johanna Neumann, survivor

On this day, 20 years ago... the Berlin Wall gates were opened. And a divided people felt immense hope. A much happier anniversary.



I've gathered two videos... and cried buckets in the process.

The first one, gives you a portrait of what happened during the first year. It talks of the families that were separated, the people who were killed...

This one, is about it's fall...

I remember the joy of that day. I was 20 and full of "piss and vinegar" as my Dad used to say. I was going to change the world. I think I have, in a small way. I brought a wonderful child into the world, and that's one of the most positive things a human being can do.

The Human Spirit is stronger than the concrete of a wall, than it's steel reinforcements... The Human Spirit can overcome everything.

"The remembrance of Nov. 9, 1989, not to mention the remembrance of the horrific proceedings of the (Kristallnacht) pogrom on Nov. 9, 1938, unmistakably teaches us: Walls — whether real or in the heads and hearts of people — walls do not solve any problems."
— Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, head of Germany's Bishop's Conference.

Dona Nobis Pacem

“Life has got a habit of not standing hitched. You got to ride it like you find it. You got to change with it. If a day goes by that don't change some of your old notions for new ones, that is just about like trying to milk a dead cow.”
– Woody Guthrie

BlogBlast for Peace is finally here. Yay!

I’ve been struggling with this post (yes, me too Mimi). I’ve started about 5 different versions. This is because for one, I’m a procrastinator and when a procrastinator tries to go against her character and starts something too early… well, it gets complicated. The other reason is that a lot has happened in my life since the last BlogBlast of November 2008. I joined the ranks of the unemployed, I’ve had my share of illness, I lost my Dad… and through all this, I’ve been trying to find a new path to my Peace in this challenging year.

This BlogBlast finds me asking myself about My Peace… Where does it reside? There’s the obvious “All you need is Love” and “Peace begins with Me”, and they are both true. By loving those around me, by showing kindness to strangers, by offering a friend a comforting hug, by giving of my time at my Chicklet’s school, I send out a ripple into the world. Letting people know they matter. That someone cares.

Love and Understanding…

The losses I’ve lived through, struggled with in the past couple of years, prepared me for the past few weeks… That’s what life is, isn’t it? Woody was right. We change and grow.

I’m one of many, a bee, a part of The Hive.

The understanding reached and the beliefs that were forged during those challenges life threw at me prepared me to sit vigil with the woman who inspired this day. It allowed me to fulfill my part in her journey. Each bee in her hive had something to do, a specific task. Some bees, who had lost a parent or sat vigil themselves with a family member, shared their insight. Some bees, kept collecting the pollen and scouring the earth for new and undiscovered fields. The Hive hummed and buzzed. Friends came together.

So… My Peace…

“I'd rather have friends who care than friends who agree with me.”
– Arlo Guthrie

Arlo (Woody’s son and a fine troubadour in his own right) once said that accepting someone else’s opinion brings with it a “challenge to your own understanding”.

I like that… a challenge to your understanding. I’ve long held in my heart that if you can’t be bothered with finding out why people hold to certain beliefs, you’ll never achieve understanding… and you’ll never achieve Peace.

I recently read this quote:

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
– Aristotle

It’s a statement that governs my life. Not that I tout myself as an “educated mind”... But this is why I have to pick things apart. So I can understand where people come from, what their reality is. I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember.

I can’t walk away from differences… I need to understand. It’s the only path I know to acceptance, to Love and Understanding… to Peace.

“It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow's viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences.”
- Harry S. Truman

In all these days I’ve been posting about Peace, I have never asked the question.

I mean, from what I see, with Peace Globes being crafted all throughout the Bloggosphere, and people marching for peace worldwide… and groups popping up everywhere on Facebook and iPeace and BloggerUnite…

Why?
Why is it that with what feels like the whole world asking for Peace, why are we not there yet?
How is this possible?
How can we look into a child’s eyes and not want Peace? And not FEEL Peace?!
What is keeping us from achieving what the clear majority of human beings on Earth seem to want?

I just don’t get it.

It would help if we knew why. I mean really… Because when you know what the obstacle is, you can overcome it. Understanding.

Recently, I accompanied my Chicklet as she embarks on her journey towards High School *sigh* HIGH SCHOOL!!! (um, excuse me, I need to take a moment and regroup… hug each other in the mean time… I’ll be right back…)

Ok… So, Chicklet goes off to do her thing while I sit in the same auditorium I used to sit in as a teenager, watching the plays the theatre group had put on, watching movies the school felt they wanted us young minds to experience… I sat there listening to the vice-principal tell us about the program we were, as families, considering for our precious children.

She talked about the values the program was based on.

One in particular stood out. Because lately, Peace is everywhere I look... like spooooooky… but in the best possible way.

It was about diversity, and about being able to come together and challenge our ideas and views and opinions.



She talked about how the children were encouraged to put on debates, to take positions, to listen to other people’s points of view… but that just walking away after each opinion was stated wasn’t where it would stop at the school.

As she said (or something like it - in French): “when you discuss, have multiple exchanges back and forth,… each time clarifying each position… at some point you just might find that both parties meet in the middle and come to a unified and slightly different point of view than each of them held in the very beginning. Sometimes, one person learns something knew, or gets a different angle about something and it affects their position. But even if nothing changes, at least they know each other a little more.”

“Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul.”
- Mark Twain

I participate in BlogBlast, because I believe in Peace. I participate because, like Mimi and my fellow Peace Bees, I believe in the power of words…. I believe that we might reach people through them. It’s not enough to preach to the choir. We need to reach the people who are skeptical about the feasibility of achieving Peace. We’re after a culture of Peace…
This means getting through to people who are pessimistic about Peace, who may have hatred and fear in their hearts, who are just cynical and refuse to join a movement that’s about Hope. We must get through to the people who have wrapped themselves in the “woobies” that are their opinions… because you don’t grow if you don’t challenge yourself and your beliefs. You end up stuck trying to milk a dead cow.

If we stop just because someone crosses their arms, we’ll have let Peace down… We’ll have let each other down.
Walking away is not an option. It just isn’t… Not if you care.
I can only imagine how many wars were sparked by someone leaving the discussion too early. To achieve Love and Understanding, we must be willing to stay and talk, even if it’s uncomfortable, even if we don’t agree.

When someone walks away, stay… wait for them to come back. Sometimes the wait is long… we are now taking up what was started by those who came before us.

Words matter. The words to this song were written by Woody Guthrie. He was one of the first artists to realize that music could be an agent for change. I was born on the anniversary of Woody’s passing.
As Arlo tells us in this video, his father never wrote down the music that went with the words and took it with him when he passed… it was up to Arlo to set his father’s words to music. Much like it was up to Mimi to take her Papa's marbles and start the BlogBlast for Peace.
I know you’ve already spent some time here reading my ramblings and I appreciate it (maybe you’re a masochist), and there are many Peace Bloggers and Bees to visit… but listening to Arlo is one of those gifts of Love and Understanding. I hope you’ll listen. If not now, maybe soon… we’ll wait.

Like Arlo says.. it’s about the little peace that’s in you that makes people happy to see you, the one that makes the dogs lick you and the babies smile…

I've included the lyrics, should you be in a kumbaya state of mind and feel the urge to sing along. *smile*



My Peace

My peace, my peace is all I’ve got that I can give to you
My peace is all I ever had, that’s all I ever knew
I give my peace to green and black and red and white and blue
My peace, my peace is all I’ve got that I can give to you.

My peace, my peace is all I’ve got and all I've ever known
My peace is worth a thousand times more than anything I own
I pass my peace around and about ‘cross hands of every hue;
My peace, my peace is all I've got that I can give to you.


Words by Woody Guthrie
Music by Arlo Guthrie

wednesday wisdom...

Maybe we should get out of their way and let them lead us?

I'm off to give my time and attention to Chicklet's classmates and help out at the school library. How lovely to watch our future as they stiffle a giggle when they read a funny line in a story, watch their eyes sparkle as they venture into faraway lands and and frolick with mystical characters... in the peaceful quiet of the library.

Join the BlogBlast for Peace. Let the children know you care.

Dona Nobis Pacem - an invitation

We believe that words have power, so this matters.

You'll notice from a few of us Bees a fairly identical post. Bees do that sometimes. A Bee does a little dance that lets the other Bees know where the good stuff is. And so, Travis the dancing Bee, reminded us of this Meme and we're following him to the good stuff.



This is the best tag ever. It's about Peace and activism. It's about unity in the bloggosphere. It's about community.

It's about time.

We are tagging the universe for Mimi, (doesn't leave many left to tag - she's everywhere as Julie and I have noticed). But it's ok...the great thing about this meme is that you can tag your friends and neighbors on any social network site you prefer.

Peace Globes are on Facebook and Twitter and BloggersUnite and iPeace!

This meme first appeared in May 2008. Mimi introduced it, and the Peace Globe Worker Bees thought this was a great time to do it again. We're just 16 days out from this year's Blog Blast for Peace.



Begin direct quote from Mimi Writes...

Peace Globes did not begin as a meme. But it began to behave like a meme. Blog to blog to blog. Like a fog. We didn't use the word "tag" ....but that's what we did when we invited others in our blogrolls to participate. The fact that you did so without the obligatory tag is proof that the concept is powerful.

It's a fact that the fastest and most effective way to spiral an idea out of control in the blogosphere is via a meme. I should know! The 700+ bloggers who participated in past launches (and that truly is the tip of The-Iceberg-I-Never-Found) knows what it means to them. It's about unity. We have that in spades. It's about activism, awareness, crossing political lines, making a statement and sharing ideas. We've done that. We have the vision as a core group of bloggers for peace; but we do not - yet - have the power in numbers behind the message.


Unity in numbers = power.

Peace power?

What a revolutionary idea.

My vision hasn't changed. Nor has my commitment to the project or my willingness to work hard. But if it is to have the influence I know it can - then I have to work smarter. Today, I, Mimi Queen of Memes, toss a slew of beautiful little peaceful globes into the galactic blogosphere - to get the ball rolling.

How far will they go? Where will they land?

Who will catch them? Where will they send them next?

Who will draw a picture, write a poem, make a song, write a post....that might have the power to begin to change the landscape of my world?

Someone will.

Will it be you?


A friend told me earlier this evening "I have a healthy respect for the power of the written word. If we can all get together and do this on the same day, with the right post title, it can have meaning....It can extend the meaning and become more powerful."

Right, my friend. A revolution of words.

Don't you want to know how far your words will reach? Have you ever wondered if what you write has relevance and meaning to someone else? Maybe someone in another country, maybe even a violent place. Or just a lonely space.

I have to believe that there are many others who - given the opportunity - would like to speak for peace. I say we should use all the tools at our disposal to make sure they get the chance.

This meme is a movement.

Let's move it.



BlogBlast For Peace Meme ~ Join The Revolution

Here are the rules and the story.

Copy this into a post and tag as many people as you'd like.

The Peace Globe project began in the fall of 2006 with a simple post from one blog, Mimi Writes. The post ignited a flame in the blogosphere. The flame became a passion. The passion became a movement. It amazingly traveled from blog to blog to blog across the globe. Bloggers wrote passionate articles on what peace means to them, along with the promise of three Latin words scribbled on a globe - Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace) - branded with the integrity of their names or blog names. It was positively inspiring to watch. And it began to happen all over the world - from Singapore to China to Afghanistan to Brooklyn.

It was simple. And powerful.

We will speak with one voice. One subject. One day.

Won't you join us?

On 5 November 2009, DISPLAY YOUR GLOBE IN A POST. Title your post "Dona Nobis Pacem". This is important. The goal is for all blog post titles to say the same thing on the same day. Write about peace that day or simply fly your globe.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE TAGGED TO PLAY.

Please consider passing this meme through the blogosphere.

This is Mimi Pencil Skirt reporting from the lovely land of the Peace Globes.

Memeing the Movement.

End quote from Mimi Writes...

You're all tagged. Everything you need to know about how to participate can be found if you click on the Worker Bee Badge at the top of my sidebar. And once you've created your Peace Globe, email it to blogblastforpeace@yahoo.com so it can be included in the Gallery.

This is a worthy thing. It's a community thing. It's a blog thing. It's a human thing.

Do it. Post your globe on 5 November. And visit Mimi on that day. Sign Mr Linky and click on the hundreds of other links to travel through the bloggosphere and see other Globes, and read heart felt words about Peace.

Be a Peace Blogger.

Dona Nobis Pacem.

everyday peace

"...Pick me up, oh, from the bottom
Up to the top, love, everyday
Pay no mind to taunts or advances
I take my chances on everyday..."

Maybe it's the mommy in me...

But I wish I could hug the world and make it better. It works when a child scrapes her knee. It helps when we sit vigil by a loved one. Human contact, a touch... it brings warmth and peace.

"A hug is like a boomerang – you get it back right away."
~Bil Keane

I used to work with a man who liked to hug. He was a part of the maintenance department in a petrochemical plant. He never forced a hug on anyone, but he had grown men coming up to him in the morning for a hug. I saw it.
Some of them would tease when someone asked for a hug, the kind of teasing you see in "macho" environments. But in their hearts, I'm pretty sure they wished they could have a hug too.
Whenever he would cross my path, I asked for mine. It always made my day better.

"Hugging closes the door to hate."
~ Tony Davis

I wish people would stop thinking the worst of each other. That may very well be our biggest obstacle to Peace. We forget that humans are fallible far too easily. Maybe it's because it reminds us that we too can fail, can falter.

I'm trying to remain positive, hopefully it'll become a permanent frame of mind. I'm trying to look for the good in people... in the world.
I'm not being naive, mind you. But maybe if we nurture the good, we'll be able to get rid of the bad... choke it like an unwanted weed. Don't feed it, don't give it room to grow.

I'm trying to keep my heart from going into hateful mode. Sometimes I manage pretty well, every once in a while, I regress..

I falter...

But I hope someone will see the good in me and...

bring up...
up to the top...
love...
everyday.

Please remember to join us during BlogBlast for Peace on November 5th. If you need help with your globe, just ask in the comment section or via e-mail. I’ll see to it a Peace Globe Worker Bee gives you a helping hand… and a hug.

"I will not play tug o' war.
I'd rather play hug o' war.
Where everyone hugs instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
and everyone grins,
and everyone cuddles,
and everyone wins."
~ Shel Silverstein

you have to keep trying...

Sometimes...

We can't feel what the other person is feeling... and we may hurt them...

... more than once.

But you know, when you have love in your heart, in the end... it's ok.

If everyone could forgive like Harry does... maybe there would be Peace.

A big smile and a giggle help too, don't they?

Oh...I just saw the most beautiful globe in all of Blogblast For Peace history on Thursday when I stopped in to visit Michelle of "Crow's Feet" at the urging of my Queen Mimi, the founder of this beautiful movement.

Go on and see... it's so very inspiring.

Go on... click the BEE... and BEE the change.

Join the Blogblast for Peace and get a Peace Globe for November 5th, 2009.
And yes, I have resorted to using cute and precious children to get you to join *grin*

when the soul soars... along with the body

Tuesday night, I felt sad.

Until I saw this...

I sobbed. Tears of release and joy, not sadness. To me, the precious gift Mia Michaels gave the world was a celebration of Women, of Life, of Peace... faeries, cherry blossoms, nymphs. The soft power that comes from the Sisterhood.



And when it was over, I was at Peace.

I've been talking of Peace now for a while, and I still am...

I'm reminded of the grace and comfort that women bring in times of war and strife, sorrow and struggle.

The skillful hands of the wartime nurse...

The care worker that comforts an AIDS orphan...

The Breast Cancer survivor walking for a cure...

A grandmother's hands as it sows a memory quilt...


A UNICEF worker helping mothers feed their children...

My friend Mimi...

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."
- Harriet Tubman

For remarkable women everywhere...

Join the Blogblast for Peace...

Be the change...

November 5, 2009

The Peace Globe Gallery

music soothes the soul... words

Yesterday was Paul Simon's 68th birthday. I love Paul Simon's music.

After my uncle Paul died many, many years ago (the name thing has not escaped me), the family gathered at his apartment to pack up his things, figure out what to do with them. His sisters (my mom and my aunts) told us nieces (yes, we were a family of women with the exception of Uncle Paul) to look if there was anything we wanted to keep.

I went through his books (yes, I'm a book geek) and his record collection.

And there it was. That was it. That was all I wanted.

That record.

The songs, poetry really, on this record always make me feel better.

What I love about this song in particular is that it reminds us that if we don't talk to one another, we'll never achieve anything great. We'll lose our humanity.

The Sound Of Silence

If we remain silent, there will be no Peace. For as much as words can fuel conflict, only words and compassion will ever end it. Silence is a Cancer.

No guns or bombs or chains will bring lasting Peace. The beauty is that they can't do anything without human beings. Put them down. Let them go.

"Dream always of a peaceful, warless, disarmed world."
- Robert Muller

Do we not tell our children to use their words when conflicts arise? And when we add a comforting touch, words become even more powerful.

"Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace."
- Buddha

What is your word? Mine is Love.

So I ask you, again (I know... I know... it's like my vinyl needs cleaning and keeps slipping.. but it's important):

Break the silence. Use your words. Join us during the Blogblast for Peace. Put a Peace Globe on your blog (get one HERE) on November, 5th. If you need help in making one, just ask either via e-mail (on my profile) or in the comment section... a Peace Globe Worker Bee will help. I promise.

"If we do not speak for Earth, who will? If we are not committed to our own survival, who will be?"
- Carl Sagan

If you want to be a little Worker Bee for Peace, join us (like, Travis, and Vinny who made the cute little Bee) in actively promoting the event. Post a little reminder, or insert the logo or a clickity link in every post... We all have a different way of doing it - diversity is a good thing. You don't have to badger quite as much as I do... but I rather like finding a way to tie Peace into everything I write - challenges are fun and it's a good cause.

November 5, 2009