Helen's Home World: April 2018

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Bears of Berlin

Last week I went to Berlin for work, I was supposed to leave on Saturday, 14 April but freezing rain and snow delayed our travel by a day. Well our travel out of Ottawa anyway, my sister made her connections and got into Berlin on Sunday as planned. I got in around lunch time on Monday and my boss got in around supper time on Monday so we missed the first day of the meetings.

De-icing in Toronto

Bear-lin What's with all the bears?

The symbol of the city of Berlin is a bear and all over the city you will find buddy bears, an art project that was started in 2001. They make a good photo op so we decided to take pictures of all the bears that we saw. There are some 140 full-size bears but obviously we didn't see all of them.

Olympic bear

Sites of Berlin bear

Block House bear

Melia hotel bear

East Side Gallery bear

Welcome bear

Bear inside the TV tower

Capital bear

Zoo bear at the Hauptbahnhof (main train station)

US Liberty bear

Nivea bear

Some of these bears were not full size bears but rather smaller ones that we saw in stores. The US Liberty bear, found at the US Embassy, was the only one we couldn't approach as you needed to go inside the lobby of the embassy. Most of the other bears were outside but even those that were inside were in places open to the public such as train stations or stores.

More about my trip to Germany to come in other blog posts.

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Happy Air Force Birthday!

Happy April Fool's Day, Happy Easter and Happy Air Force Birthday!!

Yes, in addition to being April Fools Day and Easter Sunday today is the birthday of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

My family has had quite a history with the RCAF. My dad, my mother's brother Terence, and even my mother were in the Air Force.

Cpl D.H. Stewart

Scope Wizard

My mum was only in for a short time, in those days a woman had to be single so she had to get out once she was engaged to be married.

Summer Training Course, 1954

Anne in uniform

By the time two of my sisters and I joined the military, it was one unified service in Canada but after we joined the three uniforms of the Army, Navy and Air Force were re-instated. All three of us were for a time assigned Air Force uniforms. I switched to the Army uniform after serving over 11 years in Army positions and another sister changed trades and switched uniforms too.

Me getting a black Armoured Corps beret

Although there is still only once Command structure in the Canadian Forces, even the names have been reinstated so now again we have the Royal Canadian Air Force. The name was officially adopted on 1 April 1924 and so this year marks the 94th birthday.

So Happy Air Force Birthday, it is NOT an April Fools Joke!

Oh and Happy Easter too!!

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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother