Helen's Home World: May 2023

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Floral Notes

I took the dogs down to Beechwood cemetery a couple weeks ago. It was a little too early for the tulips to be in bloom but that daffodils were very nice. Some tulips were up but they definitely weren't at their peak yet.

This week I went down to the tulip festival with my two of my sisters, a brother-in-law and my aunt, who is here visiting. Dogs have been allowed at the festival since 2018 but I left Teddy and Liam home for this trip as we planned to have lunch downtown while we were there. It was nice to go down during the week, every other time I had been there it was during a weekend, and it was always packed. We had a little difficulty with GPS and parking lot I wanted to go to was closed but we made it there in reasonable time despite the detours.

We started at the Experimental Farm gardens then walked through the Arboretum to get to Dow's Lake and Commissioners Park.

Then it was a walk through the park to see the tulips. We saw most of the larger beds of tulips before we turned around to head back along the lake to the Dow's Lake Pavillion where we had lunch. It was a bit chilly if you were just sitting even in the sun but a perfect day for walking.

After viewing the tulips, we had lunch at the pavilion then headed back to the car and began the ride home. We again had GPS problems as I had set a waypoint to get downtown to avoid construction but never actually went to the waypoint so the GPS was trying to take us back there. So, we went there, just to have to turn around to go home. Now I know how a waypoint works, I thought it was more like selecting a route.

It was a really nice afternoon. I'm not sure that the tulips were as nice as in some years as we had two very cold nights with frost warnings, but they still are quite spectacular.

Sunday, May 7, 2023

A Date with Destiny

I got up very early Saturday morning to see the coronation of King Charles III. Turned out I could have stayed in bed longer as they said programing would start at 3 am so I thought the actual coronation procession would begin sometime after 4am; so I got up at 3:30am. the procession didn't happen until around 5:30 am; but anyway, I was up so I just got comfortable with a pillow and blanket on the couch.

It seemed kind of unreal. Queen Elizabeth had always been a piece of the fabric of my life. Growing up I had kept scrapbooks about the Royal family and had numerous books on them as well. The scrapbooks are gone but I still have a good many of the books. Although we all must pass, it just seemed like Queen Elizabeth would always be there. Now here we were waiting to see her son crowned, I wonder what he thought about it all; knowing his whole life that to fulfill this destiny his mother had to die.

It was a wonderful ceremony, full of pomp, pageantry and history. I think those of us who watched from home had a better view than many of the invited guests who probably only saw the King and the rest of the Royal family as the entered or left Westminster Abbey, even the Royal family only really saw the back of the Coronation chair from where they were seated.

It was nice to see the role that Prince George played in his grandfather's coronation and that of Prince William, but I especially liked that Princess Anne had a role as a member of the King's guard on the procession back to Buckingham Palace and took part in the salute to the King on the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

The balcony scene had more members of the family than I expected but those who were not there were not unexpected. I was glad that the Queen's cousins the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra were there. They represented Queen Elizabeth's reign. And representing the reign of the new King were his brother Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, and his family, Princess Anne and her husband, and Prince William, his wife and their children.

There were those that said it was a shame Harry wasn't there. I don't feel bad for him. I've watched the interviews he's done and read his book; he's made many claims but didn't really substantiate many of them. And just like keeping his titles, he seems to want the prestige and privilege that goes along with being Royal but not workload or the intrusions on his life.

I wish King Charles a long life. I hope that he's able to resolve those family issues with Harry. It would be sad to think that Harry's children will miss out on getting to know their close relatives.

I hope Canada will keep the monarch as our Head of State or, at least, that we'll stay in the Commonwealth.

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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