A Breathe of Fresh Air
It has been a long cold winter and it has taken spring a long time to come. Well, actually I think spring never came. We have gone directly to summer. The heat and the humidity are stifling. And, despite air conditioning, the air just feels "close". It seems really difficult to catch a breathe of fresh air.
Regardless of the barometric pressure, it seems there is a heaviness in the air. In Canada, we awoke to hear that two young men set off a bomb in a family restaurant which was hosting two birthday parties. Yes, I guess we are "that country" now. The reality star who is currently occupying residency at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is playing "whose got the bigger one" with an unstable narcissist. The fact that he is also an unstable narcissist just adds another layer to this game they are playing. It would be funny if it wasn't our future that was at stake. Canadians have always prided ourselves on achieving the middle ground and our ability to effectively communicate. Now, we have Provinces suing the Federal Government and not being able to sit down with each other. We have to watch the Ontario Election and hope that it is an isolated incident and note the tone that we want in our country. It is really hard to get a breathe of fresh air.
Despite all this, last weekend, I took a breathe of fresh air.
I was so delighted to marry one of my dear friends. I married her to the man she fell in love with. It is always amazing to be in the company of true love. When love is in a room, it is palpable and just lovely. It inspires us to be better people. But, as beautiful as it was, that wasn't the breathe of fresh air. That was expected.
The wedding was held at the home of a friend of the happy couple. Food and liquor were on the inside, and the party was outside on the deck. This home was also the home of 3 teenage children. 1 big brother. 2 little sisters. Of course, the kitchen is always the epicenter of a home and this was no exception. My eyes were immediately drawn to the refrigerator. I wasn't snooping but there was a lot of material posted on the fridge. In addition to the usual family calendars, there were House Rules posted and the acknowledgement of same by all members of the home. The rules focused mainly about respect and open communication and honesty and accepting responsibility for one's behavior and the consequences of such. Simple common sense concepts that we should all embrace, yet somehow seem lost today. Although the posted rules were amazing, that also was not the breathe of fresh air.
It was how ironic these posted rules seemed in this home. Those three teenagers were probably the most delightful people that I have met in a long time. They were so positive about everything. They decorated the home for the wedding inside and out. One daughter made the wedding cake and it was stunning. I never saw anything but a permasmile on each of their faces. How many teenagers want to spend the Saturday of a long weekend with a bunch of adults, but, they did. They were having a wonderful time. They were the most respectful people I have met in a long while. No need for house rules. These three could do a masterclass in appropriate behavior.
Common sense rules for building a life worth living. I was so hopeful if all of their generation is coming up and entering their adulthood with these rules for living. There may be some hope for all of us.
And, that was truly a breathe of fresh air.
Regardless of the barometric pressure, it seems there is a heaviness in the air. In Canada, we awoke to hear that two young men set off a bomb in a family restaurant which was hosting two birthday parties. Yes, I guess we are "that country" now. The reality star who is currently occupying residency at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is playing "whose got the bigger one" with an unstable narcissist. The fact that he is also an unstable narcissist just adds another layer to this game they are playing. It would be funny if it wasn't our future that was at stake. Canadians have always prided ourselves on achieving the middle ground and our ability to effectively communicate. Now, we have Provinces suing the Federal Government and not being able to sit down with each other. We have to watch the Ontario Election and hope that it is an isolated incident and note the tone that we want in our country. It is really hard to get a breathe of fresh air.
Despite all this, last weekend, I took a breathe of fresh air.
I was so delighted to marry one of my dear friends. I married her to the man she fell in love with. It is always amazing to be in the company of true love. When love is in a room, it is palpable and just lovely. It inspires us to be better people. But, as beautiful as it was, that wasn't the breathe of fresh air. That was expected.
The wedding was held at the home of a friend of the happy couple. Food and liquor were on the inside, and the party was outside on the deck. This home was also the home of 3 teenage children. 1 big brother. 2 little sisters. Of course, the kitchen is always the epicenter of a home and this was no exception. My eyes were immediately drawn to the refrigerator. I wasn't snooping but there was a lot of material posted on the fridge. In addition to the usual family calendars, there were House Rules posted and the acknowledgement of same by all members of the home. The rules focused mainly about respect and open communication and honesty and accepting responsibility for one's behavior and the consequences of such. Simple common sense concepts that we should all embrace, yet somehow seem lost today. Although the posted rules were amazing, that also was not the breathe of fresh air.
It was how ironic these posted rules seemed in this home. Those three teenagers were probably the most delightful people that I have met in a long time. They were so positive about everything. They decorated the home for the wedding inside and out. One daughter made the wedding cake and it was stunning. I never saw anything but a permasmile on each of their faces. How many teenagers want to spend the Saturday of a long weekend with a bunch of adults, but, they did. They were having a wonderful time. They were the most respectful people I have met in a long while. No need for house rules. These three could do a masterclass in appropriate behavior.
Common sense rules for building a life worth living. I was so hopeful if all of their generation is coming up and entering their adulthood with these rules for living. There may be some hope for all of us.
And, that was truly a breathe of fresh air.
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