The Fight For and Against Edward Cornwallis in Halifax

Peace Trail - Neil Young

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhkzwdOpKC4

Canada's 150th birthday celebrations has raised the ire of a number of people, but most especially (it seems) with the First Nations people of this land. The land was inhabited for a millennia before the people from across the pond came to claim the land as their own. Canada became a nation and the white man's country by confiscating land and removing indigenous people who stood in the way. Victory at all costs.

Success in business comes at the cost of another. Two coffee shops in one block doesn't increase the number of coffee drinkers but spreads the consumer dollar over two locations. This concept includes the business of increasing the landholding of a nation. In the case of the formation of Canada, the First Nations already surviving on the land needed to move over and make room. By choice or by force. According to history, more often than not it was by force. Sadly, to some degree that dominance over the First Nations people seems to be continuing today.

Canada became a country at the expense of the First Nations people. But the country I call Canada, still and always did include First Nations people. Maybe it was always a nation and we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of its official naming rather than its' birthday? 

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In Halifax, Nova Scotia, there is a sense of anger and frustration boiling under the surface and waiting to erupt on the streets and especially in the parks. And the topic of frustration is not just the sesquicentennial celebrations but a specific individual, Edward Cornwallis.  

A symbolically removed Cornwallis statue
at Halifax park on 7.15-17 : my photo

It wasn't that long ago that I started to hear rumblings about the founder of the city, Edward Cornwallis and the honouring of his name and memory that many felt was unjustified. But apparently it has been going on since at least 1995 when Cornwallis Place on the waterfront was renamed Summit Place due to his controversial treatment of the native Mi'kmaq population. Then in 2011 a motion was brought forth, approved and completed to rename Cornwallis Junior High School to Halifax Citadel Junior High. Shortly thereafter signs for the Cornwallis River were removed - although it was not renamed. 

I thought it would be wise to educate myself and what I found was enlightening. People questioned why a biography was never written about Edward Cornwallis if he was such a significant character in the building of a nation if not the founding of the biggest city on the Eastern seaboard. Well, it turns out that it would not be a flattering read. 

The consensus in all that I researched seemed to indicate that prior being sent to establish a British colony in what is now known as Nova Scotia, Cornwallis was little more than a privileged brat. He had served in several previous positions, which he seems to have been awarded due to his rich, very influential and titled family not his ability or past performance within the military. 

As a commander, Cornwallis was probably responsible for more fatalities of white army men overseas than the number of Natives and Acadians in Nova Scotia (that number is actually unknown however). 400 British soldiers under the command of Cornwallis lost their lives in one battle alone. He resigned another command before the troops declared mutiny against him. For his military failures he was court-martialed (twice) but was able to defend and save himself but not his reputation in the court of public opinion. His comrade-in-arms Admiral John Byng was not so lucky and was executed. Hardly a war hero. 

Upon arriving in Nova Scotia, Cornwallis decided to establish the colony he was sent to found on what was then Mi'kmaq hunting ground (now Halifax). He was ordered to make peace with the French and the Natives when taking over their land and engage them in a mutually beneficial trade proposal. Cornwallis chose not to, instead he threatened war if they didn't comply with his extradition of their lands. And the natives chose to fight. 

The Mi'kmaq scalped first. This is true. It is also true that Cornwallis issued a bounty for the scalp of each native man, woman or child killed by the settlers. The settlers didn't scramble to profit from this bounty and Cornwallis was forced to increase the monetary prize.

Edward Cornwallis came to the new world as a governor in the spring of 1749 and left in the fall of 1752, some 26 months later. I think there are probably many other people who did more to establish the city of Halifax than Cornwallis did. Maybe he is getting far more credit with monuments and references to his name to maintain his legacy than his legacy is worth?

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I think he was generally a failed military man who pouted when his settlement of the province and city of Halifax failed and he left before the entire project imploded, leaving others behind to pick up the pieces and make Halifax a proud city.

But should his statue come down from the park which bears his name? The short answer is no. 

The long answer is that the name of the park should be changed. Some suggestions at the recent protest included "The Halifax Peace and Freedom Park". I like that. The statue itself needs some revisions. A plaque added that includes information about all of history. The good and the bad. 

The fact that the statue is there has opened a dialogue that may have been tucked away in the memory of past generations, with the truth forgotten. Personally, I would have never considered researching the man, he was known as a the founder of the city and nothing more. 

When people go to the park, it would be nice if they could look at the statue and learn why he stands there and why he shouldn't stand there. There isn't enough education about the First Nations struggles in the school system, let's make this a teaching lesson. 

If we are going to erase all the controversial figures from our history, we will not have a history. Even Sir John A. MacDonald referred to First Nations people as savages. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, raised the Chinese head tax from $50 to $500 to dissuade the immigration of Asians. (The tax was banned in 1923 but immigration wasn't permitted until 1947.) Canada was a country and women were not considered persons until October 18, 1929. And it took even longer for the LGBT community to stop being persecuted and punished for their choices. 

And we all still fight for equality. Because there are always things we can improve upon. 

I guess my point is that rather than pretend the bad stuff didn't happen we should try to learn from it to make our world a better place. I will never have much respect for Cornwallis, but like other distasteful figures in our planets history I want to find a way to remember and mourn but never forget. 

credit

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edward-cornwallis/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Cornwallis#Monuments
http://thechronicleherald.ca/thenovascotian/72328-meet-real-edward-cornwallis
picture: http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors3/george-santayana-quote-those-who-do-not-learn-from-history-are-doomed.jpg
http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/sure-john-a-macdonald-was-was-a-racist-colonizer-and-misogynist-but-so-were-most-canadians-back-then/wcm/3e2e922b-cab8-41bb-86b9-5bcbd4e29062
http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/1929-women-become-persons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_LGBT_history_in_Canada

Leaving by choice...or not

Hard Road - Sam Roberts Band

Loss is a different feeling for everyone. Everyone feels loss in a different intensity. And there are just as many types of loss too. In less than a week I have been moved by two very different types of losses in very diverse ways. Leaving by choice and leaving with no choice.

Loss of a loved one is probably one of the most profound. In this case, loss can refer to death, divorce or missing. There can be some measure of hope in the case of missing but the pain of that loss can go for a lifetime if no answers are ever found, if no questions are ever answered. 

I have experienced more than my fair share of death of family members and can speak with some credibility there. And in my humble opinion, divorce is much harder to cope with than death. Death is a finality and with that lack of hope, we can process the grief and move on with our lives. The pain never goes but we learn to live with it and without those we love. 

In a divorce situation the loss can impact our life in similar ways. A person we love is no longer with us. We will always wonder if it was us, if maybe we had done things differently, if we had said, if we hadn't said. Ex-partner bashing is not something I personally engaged in, nor did I sugar-coat the truth. The fact of the matter is that if I consistently undermine and belittle an ex-partner, what does that say about me and my choices. If a childs parent is so unworthy that you can't say anything nice about them what does that say about the child that is half of that alleged so called waste of space. 

Whatever came of a once important relationship, it is crucial to remember that you did once see some goodness in that person. And your children have inherited some of that as well. Just because they aren't right for you anymore doesn't mean that they aren't okay for someone else. And they can have them ;) I divorced for a reason and I respect the decision I made. I hope that my children have been able to come to terms with their sense of loss in the least impactful way possible.

Please Don't Bury Me - John Allan Cameron

(this version includes an introduction

song starts at about 1 minute mark)

Back to the experience of loss in the form of death. Although five immediate family members have died on me at various times, I was either two young to remember or unable to attend a funeral. People just assume that I am familiar with the customs and practises. But I am not. The one funeral I attended impacted me in ways that I struggled to cope with and in some sense still haunts me. At 22 it was not my desire to pick my brothers casket. Nothing in your life prepares you for that. 

I feel loss and a most overwhelming sense of compassion and empathy for someone I know that has lost a loved one. It's not because I necessarily know the person who has passed but I know a relative. I don't pretend that I understand their pain but I do feel their pain. And I feel it most profoundly.

But what is the right thing to do? When it is a friend or acquaintance and you don't know the family at all. I want to show support but I struggle with funerals and traditional services. I don't completely agree with the modern day burial practises that have become more business and less necessity. Environmentally I would prefer alternatives. 

If I don't attend a funeral, please don't take it to mean anything more than I would like to show support but need support myself to get through it. I can't think of anyplace that I feel more alone than in the middle of a funeral gathering. Sorry.

Maybe it was enduring so much death when I was young, but it's never been a topic I shy away from. Many sunny summer days were spent at the graveyard planting flowers and tending the mausoleum. There was some comfort found there. The only time that my family was together. Death is a part of life and when your time comes if you have preferences, you must communicate them.

I did that when my children were about 8 and 9 years old and we were on a family car trip. They were all that was left of my family. They had to know. A story on the news radio was a perfect segue to begin to share my choices. Keeping it age appropriate, I told my kids that I was not to be buried but cremated instead. They couldn't keep my ashes because I didn't want to be halved or fought over. So they promised that they would go to my hometown of Thunder Bay and sprinkle my ashes on the nose of the Sleeping Giant and see if he sneezes. They laughed and never forgot their Mom's strange request. Of course now that they are older we were able to discuss more details like costs of services and spending money on a celebration of life. Party! 

How Many Miles - Kim Stockwood

   
How many miles from home are you? Leaving home (your birthplace) is a loss in itself. Everything you knew and counted on was at home. Stability and security. You had friends all over because you had to meet and interact with so many different people during school and activities. 

If you lived in a community for most of your years growing up and then moved quite far away you will understand when I say that it is like ripping a piece of your heart out. Everything you encounter is suddenly strange and unfamiliar - the comforts of home, the friendly faces, all left behind. I did that exact thing (as many do to pursue higher education) however I never again returned. The closest I have lived to my hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario since high school was 1000 miles. Milton, Oakville, Georgetown in Ontario and Bridgetown, Coldbrook and Halifax, Nova Scotia. It took me 30 years of moving about before I finally felt like I was really home - here in Halifax. Why? I don't have a good explanation for that.

But I do understand the need for being on the move. Just recently a friend I met recently decided to move back home. After 10 years on the east coast she is headed for the opposite coast. A place that she still calls home. She was feeling a loss for that home she left and the only way to ease her pain was to return. Her departure is a loss for this neck of the woods for she was instrumental in engaging people in the community and introducing them to local cultural events. 

I hope she finds happiness wherever she may land. It's not easy to intentionally lose everything that is of comfort to you. To pull yourself up by the roots and go to where nobody knows your name and everything is different from when you were there before. I know...I did it. Too many times. But sometimes you have to try on a lot of pairs of shoes before you find the ones that you can live in and with! :) 

Hometown for me represents loss and with all the loss there is nothing there for me anymore. My friend is going to family she left when she wanted to pursue higher education. Now its time for her to return. 

I have found my "home" in the heart and soul of the people of the beautiful city of Halifax in Nova Scotia. Someday I may understand what my innate drive is that brought me here in the first place or I may not. I have found peace and I have found kindred spirits and I can always go back to visit the pieces of my heart that I left behind. 

Selling Signed Bibles to the Pope

Billionaire - Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars

This is about the second greatest thing to ever happen to me. And true to form, it has consumed my every waking moment for the past week. Every since the moment that my son was born on August 14, 1989 he has commanded all my attention. The last time that I had the final say on anything to do with him was when in the midst of final stage labour I told the staff in the delivery room that he absolutely could not be born on the 13th of the month. They used the reasoning of waiting for the doctor as a way of appeasing me. Maybe he was born on the 13th - I had other things on my mind besides clock watching, but officially the birth certificate says 12:01 am on August 14. It was just my superstitious nature, I don't usually let such things rule my life, but I figured that it was better not to push your luck and your child at the same time, lol. I don't think I would have requested to continue labour for an additional 8 hours for example...but it was close enough that I could make such demands without undue hardship on my part. The point is, that it was the last time I had that control over my sons life.

From the beginning he was as stubborn and determined as I imagine I was as a kid. So we had that connection. But as much as I loved him, my own kid creeped me out. He used to stare at me with an intensity and depth that was very unnerving. I felt like he was peering into my brain and into the depths of my soul, trying to figure me out. I know it sounds weird but it's true. He would be buckled into his car seat and I would like back at him to see his eyes upon me, his expression confused and piercing at the same time. I got used to it and accepted it since it wasn't accompanied by a blood-curdling scream. We had enough of those with the night terrors. If you haven't had the pleasure or experiencing night terrors, in his case, he would wake up in the middle of the night from a sound sleep screaming like he had been stabbed. Picking him up didn't console him until he woke up enough to realize that he was indeed safe. Like a piercing screech in a sealed tin can, scared the bejezzus out of everyone. His poor sister, she was so scared and just a toddler herself.

She 2yrs, He 6mos

The first years of his life was spent in a transitional phase. Born mid-August in Kentville Nova Scotia the doctor barely made it off the golf course before he could grab his baseball glove and catch Chris on his hasty exit. He was late in coming but determined and full of fire when he decided it was time. Born with a full thick head of dark hair, the nurses joked that he was almost ready for school, his long length and 9lb weight also helped. 24 hours later he made his first road trip when we were transferred to a hospital a little closer to our home. At just 3 months old, the family took a month long trip for Christmas in a motorhome. We returned home for just long enough to pack and move out of our house and into motorhome which became our principle residence at a campground for the next 7 months. We celebrated his 1st birthday just days after we moved into our newly constructed home. The motorhome was fairly spacious but not for two children under the age of 2 1/2. Particularly when one experienced night terrors. Other than that, it was like an adventure! Well, I was so exhausted that I often fell asleep in my supper because that was the only time I stopped moving. I think of all the toys that children have nowadays and laugh when I recall the meagre supply of entertainment the kids had that was not packed away. We had a tv but no cable or VCR. In any case, good times. Why Chris even learned to walk then, down the narrow hallway...he had some serious practicing to do out in the wide open spaces of a real home. 

I was incredibly lucky that my kids got along and actually like to spend time together. She liked Barbies and he had some Ken dolls. He had Batman and she had Batgirl. I tried to not gender stereo-type my kids but they were just that way. When the girl was a baby, she had a toy vehicle. She barely looked at it. When he came along, he picked it up and made an engine sound with his lips. He stepped on the dolls that she cared for so lovingly. So rather than focus on their genders, I focused on their different personalities and preferences. I embraced their uniqueness! In the early morning they would get each other up and play in one or the others room - I had a gate across the stairs so they could stay where it was safe. When they got old enough to take an interest in the TV, I would turn on Saturday morning cartoons before taking on the breakfast prep. Not even four years old and he would have the channel changed to Sports Desk on TSN. I don't even know how he knew about it in the first place, not like I watched it :). Fortunately the girl was not much of a TV watcher so it didn't matter to her what was on. 

Sports was always his thing. Playing or watching, he couldn't get enough. First and foremost it was baseball and his dream was to be a Toronto Blue Jays player. Of course 1992-1993 were the years for their back-to-back World Series wins, so that surely helped fuel the fire for the wee 3 year old. He may have started his training, throwing food and toys for the dog, but he quickly graduated to master pitcher throwing toddler baseballs from one end of the house to the other. Many a time the housework was left for later so that the practice could move to the safety of the great outdoors. He played on his first official team before the allowable age of 5 because I just couldn't hold him back any longer. 

If it wasn't for gym and recess at school, he would never have gone. School very much bored him. Teachers either loved him for his enthusiasm and the challenge he brought to the table or hated him for his enthusiasm and the challenge he brought to the table. I found that overall teachers liked him better if they hadn't taught the model student/his sister before him. Interviews with teachers made me laugh, one of the early ones told me she was having trouble keeping his attention. When I found out he had chosen a seat by the window I suggested she move him because he would much rather be outside playing then stuck indoors. She moved him and he stopped looking out the window he could no longer see. Problem solved. Common sense is lost on some teachers! 

When Chris was tested for giftedness, he deliberately did poorly because he didn't want to be moved to a different school away from his friends. Instead, they decided to challenge his academic prowess by providing additional work. That was a complete fail. As adults outside of the "halls of learning" we know that it is not a reward to be given more work, but a punishment. Harder work or more responsibility is an incentive however. One of the most ridiculous meetings I had with school staff was when the principle called me in because he was doing english homework during math class. It was stupid because his math was completed and he was filling up his time productively. The staff felt that homework as such should be done at home. Chris was well into his high school career before he brought homework home, yet it was always done (although probably hastily). Homework cut into his regularly scheduled street hockey game, or basketball game, or putting practice. I advised that principal that I was not in agreement with her policy and in fact felt that Chris' initiative should be applauded. Her next bone of contention was that Chris often finished assigned work quickly and then started talking to his buddies and disrupted other people. Bet he wasn't so talkative when he was completing other school work? Duh! 

He always had an agenda and a plan but it didn't always follow the societal norm of what was expected. It wasn't bad, just different. About 9 or 10 years old, Chris was going with an older friend to the corner store where they were giving away Coke rubber bracelets. Chris would get several at a time and take them to school and sell them for a $1 each. 100% profit he told me proudly. That wasn't his first business venture but it remains a standout because his customers could just as easily gone to the store and got them free for themselves. That was the moment I knew that business was his calling. 

The provincial school system was never his forte and without the sports teams and DECA I'm sure his attendance would be called to task and not just the un-matched socks he wore just to assert his independence and will. DECA is an extra-curricular group offered through some high schools that give students hands on learning in the field of business and marketing. This was his passion during those trying teenage years. Attending Dalhousie University in Halifax Nova Scotia was his other goal. He didn't know how it would be done financially but he knew that his university diploma would say Dalhousie one way or another. I had no doubt. This is a kid who got his first job at 11 so he could have a bike that mom couldn't afford. A bike that he enjoyed telling the loan officer at the bank was worth more than my car. Smart-ass! :)

Me and He 2011 Graduation

There is a saying that I had cross-stitched and framed when the kids were very young, it says "There are two things that we must give our children. One is roots, the other is wings." No truer words were spoken when it comes to my son. He needed someone to believe in him and then let him achieve it on his own with support and guidance not chastising and belittling. I am not in any way suggesting that he is perfect and I wouldn't air his dirty laundry that hang on the skeletons in his closet to the public. But he is a kid that always seemed to know where he was going and just needed some suggestions along the way, his drive sometimes got in the way of the constraints of society and he was ill equipped to effect change as a youngster. But with each new accomplishment, with every success, with every bump in the road, he made me prouder and prouder. 

He got his diploma and he spent all four years at Dalhousie University in Halifax (1000 miles away from home), he got the job that he decided he wanted. And he quickly became an asset to that company and fulfilled every promise he made if they took a chance on the new graduate. He works to get what he wants with integrity and professionalism. That determination and drive is applied to family, friends, personal and business relationships.

I hope I am around long enough to see how far he goes, because I don't see any limits as long as he maintains the morals and values that he has up until now. He tells me not to worry about leaving an inheritance for him because like the business cards that my friend had made for him during high school, he is a "Millionaire in the Making". 

It was a university buddy that once described my Chris better than any one else has every been able to...he said "Chris could sell signed copies of the Bible to the Pope." 

Happy 23rd Birthday to my beautiful boy! LOVE YOU!

Downsizing an Upsizing World

You're Beautiful - James Blunt

So does anyone else find it ironic that while the population as a whole is up-sizing, things around us are down-sizing. There is a lot of talk in the media about the increasing mass of the world, and I'm speaking of the numbers on the scale. 

I don't live in the city of Toronto but close enough that the mayor is featured in the news on a regular basis. Personally, I am not a fan because I find that his ego needs to be shrunk more than his belt size. It was the Mayor Rob Ford who at the beginning of the year issued a challenge to the citizens of Toronto and a select few other city leaders to join in his "Cut the Waist" weight loss challenge. I don't know how successful he was in his recruitment parade, except for signing his slightly smaller brother (who also happens to be a member of council). Initially the weekly weigh-ins were going well and had all the media buzz to keep the momentum going, there there was a plateau, a few pound weight gain and poof! Well he didn't exactly vanish into thin air but for the past few weeks he has skipped his climb onto the scale. Interestingly just before posting this blog I heard that he has finally made an appearance at the public scale and I offer my congratulations on his further two pound weight loss. It's not easy, especially wen facing public criticism for being caught on video while stocking up on a late night snack of KFC. A recent poll conducted by Metro News, showed that 58% people believe he invites public opinion on what he eats since he made this goal a public affair. But really, I don't care either way how successful his venture is. Enjoy the Double Down Mr Ford...it's only here for a limited time. 

We all know about height, age and health restrictions on some amusement park rides. Some are banned for the very young, pregnant and those with health concerns like heart irregularities, how about weight constraints. No, I don't suppose that they are going to start installing scales at the entrance of the ride, but there are other ways that may have you uncerimoniously turfed from the ride once you have been seated. How embarrassing! As it turns out, not everyone can play. Some of these rides are not built for the differences in the population - but rather for what the designers deam as the average user. This morning during a promotion to herald a new roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland (located just outside the city of Toronto), a number of people were given free passes to give the train on rails a go. Some people couldn't get enough after riding two times and were ready for more. One fellow didn't even get one ride, for after taking his place, he was escorted off since the safety harness could not accomodate his Molson Muscle. Come back when you lose a few pounds the host suggested - although not in those exact words.  And this is not exactly the type of thing that you would no ahead of time. Maybe soon, they will need to advertise weight size restrictions. I feel more sorry for the young children who seem to have expanded in GIRTH, would they fit on the kiddie rides. I recall my daughter being iffy on some rides because her legs were so long that her knees were almost touching her ears when she sat. Do you as a parent stop your child from riding the kiddie coaster or flying airplanes and put them on the motorcycles or bumper cars instead? 

Parking lots are a particular sore spot with me. As cars got smaller, the spots to park them at the mall got smaller also. Not a bad idea initially but in the beginning when there were still alot of big sedans on the road, the average vehicle was subject to a lot of door dings. Now, with the exception of a few oversized SUV's and Hummers, who's drivers have egos bigger than their rides and who feel some sort of warped sense of entitlement that affords them the right to use two spaces, cars are narrow enough to fit nicely. It's the people who can't get out without opening the door all the way that are the problem. It's the ones who prop their car door against yours while they try to get junior in or out of the car seat, or worse the ones who have to open their door to the maximum to heave their bulk out of the smallest compact car on the the market. And with the fluctuating weight change in the vehicle the shock absorbers are working overtime stabilizing the car and scraping their door against the side of your car. It's not their fault, so much as the fact that there really is no room. Never mind if you have carrying extra fast food weight...what if you are pregnant?

Okay, I am sure that any man reading this wouldn't understand but being in the latter stages of pregnancy is not a lot different than being very overweight. You get first hand knowledge of what daily life is like for the extremely obese. Regardless of the size you start off at, when you are 9 months pregnant carrying what amounts to an unweilding beachball in front of you, getting in and out of a car is a challenge without adding the confinement of the public parking spaces. Now, obviously someone recognized this predicament for they have created Pregnant and Family parking spots nearest the door, next to the Handicapped spots. But what about public washrooms? Installing wheelchair accessibility was a good thing, but in doing so, some stalls became smaller to accomodate. I don't know about men's facilities but woman's facilities not only have the toilet rolls mounted on the walls, but sometimes a purse shelf and waste receptacle. I recall being pregnant myself - some 20+ years ago and having to go in and straddle the toilet to have the manoueverability to close the door. There simply wasn't enough room to step in, turn and close the door without some gymnastics. It was then that I got a new-found sympathy for the obese that must do this dance each and every time and some I would think may never make it in and be resigned to using the accessible facilities. Does anybody remember the day when you went into a stall with your mother and there was room for both of you in there? 

I often find that I am more likely to use the spacious facilities given the chance of a little breathing and elbow room, if you will. I am not alone, I often see mothers and their children exiting from there, and people just like me. The most used stall I would bet. Having frequented a number of them, there is something that I have noticed that bothers me. If, you were physically challenged and entered a designated stall, there is no means with which to close the door once you have entered. Think about it...most of the doors swing out, in order to pull it closed, you must grasp the bottom of the door (the top of the door if you are standing). There is no handle. Unless, you live in the province of Nova Scotia. Perhaps other locations have also considered this dilemma and have handles in consideration of the wheelchair bound, but not so if you live in the Southern Ontario area. There is an accomodation that should be made for the service of the handicapped. While they are in there fixing them, maybe they can alter all the doors to swing out so we can stop this potty dance! 

No one is suggesting that public areas are able to accomodate every size and shape of person on the planet. The large, the small, the short and the tall...We must recognize that there is no such thing as one size fits all. One size doesn't even fit most anymore. 

Ship of Dreams...and Nightmares

Dreamboat Annie - Heart

Sideline on the music choice: Ultimately this one won out for the haunting introduction and the single line "Ship of Dreams". The other choice was Into the Ocean by Blue October. Have a listen, it is a good one also.

Does anyone else find society's obsession with the Titanic a little strange? There have been many disasters (sadly) with loss of life greater than the 1500 or so who perished with the sinking of the Titanic yet, it is the unsinkable that captivates us more than others. I wonder why it is so. 


Back in the day (my youth) the word Titanic was always accompanied with "unsinkable". I first saw a to-scale version of the ship in a plexiglass enclosure in a mall in Minneapolis Minnesota. It was massive and I just couldn't imagine how big it really was. It didn't compare to the really ocean going vessels I had seen coming in and out of the harbour in Thunder Bay. I think that is what captivated me. How could a ship that was unsinkable sink? And I wanted to know what made them think it was unsinkable, for at the time I didn't know about the many watertight compartments. But then I wondered why did they fail, it seemed like a sound idea. 


Although this year on April 15, 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, people have never let the story go. Long before James Cameron came out with his modern tale of love on the ill-fated ship, people were obsessing over the luxury liner. He didn't renew the fascination with the tragedy, he just re-kindled the flames. Much like Dr. Ballard did when he finally located the remains in the oceans depths. That was 1985 and many years had passed with unsuccessful searches. It seems that today, he is disappointed by the fact that no government has taken steps to preserve the underwater graveyard of so many souls. If when he had made the discovery, he had brought back just one artifact, then he could have claimed the site as his own and no one could legally go down and pillage. With his passion to see the site memorialized as a shrine, he could have donated his ownership to a worthy museum. Now it is a free for all. Thus far, I don't believe that anyone has gone within the rusted framework to collect souvenirs, but the site has suffered some damage and disturbance none-the-less. I imagine it will be just a matter of time before a real scavenger hunt begins. 

Some original footage of the ship before leaving port

It seems that a number of locations have laid claim to bits and pieces of the Titanic story. Belfast of course, because it was there that the ship was made and designed. It was the Irish working man who made it unsinkable. To be fair, they also constructed the sister ship of the Titanic, the Olympic sailed for many years problem free - well, she always floated! The craftsmanship and ability of the Irish working man remains intact. Southampton was the port that saw the Titanic official embark on its maiden voyage and where most of the passengers boarded the vessel. New York City has laid a claim for it was not only the intended destination of the ship but also the American headquarters of the owners, White Star Lines. Halifax, also has a connection to the Titanic as it was from here that the MacKay-Bennet was commissioned by the White Star Lines to search for victims of the disaster. And they found much more than they expected. A sea of floating bodies, 328 were pulled aboard to attempt identification via personal effects with 119 returned to their watery grave with damage too extensive for personal identification. A minister aboard gave them a proper burial at sea. All but 59 bodies that were shipped to surviving family members were buried at one of three cemeteries in Halifax marked with simple granite blocks paid for by White Star Lines. Then there is Las Vegas which is currently hosting an exhibit of artifacts including a 15-ton piece of the starboard hull which was raised 12,500 feet from the ocean from after 80 years of rusting and enduring 60,000 lbs of pressure per square inch. It would be incredible to see, particularly when you consider that at 26 feet long you would need 34 similar pieces to represent the 883 foot length of the the Titanic. Some artifacts that you see within Titanic exhibits are not necessarily from the ship after its demise. Some items on the Titanic were identical to the items on White Stars other ships, some items are replicas, some left the Titanic before the ship sailed, some floated on the surface of the water, some came from the some 700 survivors.


So, should we use the technology available to us today to preserve and conserve the artifacts of the Titanic or should it be left for Mother Nature that claimed her to dispose of her in her own time? While we cultivate this fascination for this particular ship for whatever reason, I don't think that we need to have tangible materials to hold in our hand to feel a greater connection. 100 years after the fact, knowing exactly how she sank is of no real value. Anything further that can be learned will not be accomplished by plucking a victims jewelry from the fleshless bones. We have found her final resting place and can visually see if she broke apart in two or more pieces, but the china cup and spectacles recovered from the 1st class cabin is not necessary. Besides, even if we pulled every last piece of her up there would still be arguments over the conclusions made. Consider that some 50 years after the death of US President J.F. Kennedy, there are still people who don't believe the official version of the events and the investigation began immediately not 100 corrosive years later. The Titanic sank, a lot of people died, it was terrible. Do we need to know more? Let them rest in peace.

Titanic memorial wall at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax Nova Scotia

Survivor names in white, Victims names in black 

Here are a few facts that you may not have known about the Titanic.
1. The Titanic was the largest moving object of its time.
2. It cost $7.5 million dollars, 3 years and 10,000 men to construct it. Today it would cost about $400 million to build it
3. In the days when White Star and Cunard competed to have the biggest and fastest vessel to cross the Atlantic Ocean, more than 100,000 people gathered to watch the Unsinkable commence it's maiden voyage.
4. A first-class ticket sold for $4,500 each (equivalent to $90,000 today). Third class was $40 ($770 today) and you had to share one of two bathtubs with 700 other passengers. But to tell the truth, back then they didn't bathe too frequently for fear of catching disease from the practice. Third class on the Titanic was said to be similar to second class on any other liner. 
5. There is only one survivor of the Titanic still living today. She was 2 months old at the time and remembers nothing. Don't bother asking her for eye-witness accounts.
6. A Swiss watchmaker who claims to have purchased a 1.5 kg of steel and pieces of coal retrieved from the depths of the Atlantic in 1991 will be selling Titanic-DNA watches. The luxury wrist adorners also comprised of platinum, gold and steel will sell for between $7,800 and $173,100. Exactly how big and heavy will these timepieces be?
7. I don't think I have a personal Titanic connection...but I did sit in a replica deck chair at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Don't miss the riveting exhibit at the museum, second only to the display depicting the effects of the Halifax Explosion. 

A Hot Guy with Handcuffs Finally Comes to the Door and All He Wants is a Report

Come On Over - Shania Twain

Just my luck to invite someone hot and in a uniform over to the house and all he wants to do is talk! That's talking foreplay a little to seriously lol! 


Okay to be fair, he was a police officer and I called him to make a report. But he was hot and friendly and...married.


A little background, I moved into this house when the kids were barely double digits on the age scale and it was like a piece of heaven in more ways than one.  We had just spent a year in a two bedroom apartment on the third floor of a town house. It was crowded to say the least and miserable at the best of times. Mind you we had come from much more spacious quarters in beautiful Nova Scotia prior to that. So even though we were only going into a small semi-detached bungalow, we were all going to have our own personal space and a yard, and a basement. The neighbours were like heaven sent angels. They were recently retired and had lived on the street forever, they were the original owners of their house and could tell me a complete history of not only who lived and died in my house but nearly every house on the street as well. Yes, I said died, an old man expired of natural causes when he owned the house. The old man next door was constantly helping with whatever needed doing in and around the house and he was quite handy. It worked well, it got him out from under her skin and I got things done around here too. 


Do you remember the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond? The in-laws across the street Frank and Marie? Well, that was what my neighbours became over time, nosy and always in my business. My very own Frank and Marie - let's call them that. There was still a lot of appreciation on my part, but there were times when I knew how to do it and could do it fine on my own. But it turns out that my "Frank" was a bit of a sexist and there were certain things he didn't think women should be doing. That's why he was so helpful. However as his hearing deteriorated over the years it became more and more annoying to have him "help". There was one year when he came over to remind my son that it was time to put up the Christmas lights. We told him that we had decided not to bother with putting up lights that year, and thought that was the end of it. Until a week later he was knocking on the door with the ladder in hand saying it was time. There was no stopping him and after he took the lights himself to check if all the bulbs worked, we had Christmas lights up. 


The summers though were a bigger nuisance though. The patio was in the side yard and all that separated us was a hedge and a lilac bush. It was impossible to do any yard work or entertaining without either Frank or Marie poking their heads over the hedge to ask what was on the barby or offer words of advise on gardening options. Enjoying company but not liking the lack of an option for solitude, I tried letting the hedge grow taller to provide some privacy just in that area. Frank took it upon himself to fix my trimming job. He also disliked the way my manual push mower cut my grass and would re-cut it after I was done with his "power" gas machine. "There now, isn't that better" he would say. I really didn't care it was just grass so, if it kept him busy no harm no foul. And yes, against my wishes he took my two outdoor extension cords and spliced them together into one. The thing is that as far as neighbours go, they could have been worse. It was certainly nice to know that if you needed a spot of milk for your morning coffee, or someone to sign for a package there was someone you could trust. And for 8 years it was exactly that.


The houses were built in the late 1950's and they were amazed when I hired a contractor to come and finish my basement and upgrade my wiring. It wasn't necessary to re-wire and Frank could put up panelling in the basement like he did at his place. No, I don't think so. For quality of living, the basement was definitely a family priority since it could be used 365 days a year and would save money on heating. Frank and Marie were old and set in their ways so during these renovations, I began to prep them about the fence that would be going in at some point, my comments were largely ignored. They didn't see a need for a fence, we had a hedge. I wanted to let the dog out without worrying about tying him up - no hedge would stop him! The first to go was the lilac bush and that was when the grumbling started. The lilac bush had to stay because it provided shade for their side door in the hot days of the summer. I suggested a fence may accomplish the same thing. Throughout the construction that summer, Frank and Marie watched from inside their house, every move that the contractors made and Frank would often come out and question them - delaying the progress and annoying the crew. When it was all said and done, it looked great. Rather than force them to pay for half through their taxes and seeing as they claimed not to have the money to pay for half, I only went halfway down the property line. Just enough to give me the privacy I wanted without shutting them out completely. 


But they weren't happy and the bulls**t started. They complained to the town that the fence wasn't on the property line, that it was too high, that it was crooked and sloped towards their property, that it wasn't regulation. They complained to the the town that I hadn't received a permit for construction of the fence, patio, front deck, basement renos. They complained to the tax assessors that I had done basement renovations without alerting them, that I had installed another washroom without reporting it. They complained about the dog being unleashed, barking incessantly, being unlicensed. It was all ridiculous and I ignored every new onslaught that they threw my way and wrote them off. I refused to stoop to their level. Things calmed down eventually.


About a year ago their grandson moved in. Suddenly garbage was constantly strewn around the patio, feces were flung onto the interlock, the storage cabinet doors were wide open. The hose nozzle and it's attachments were stolen, cigarette butts littered the property, lawn furniture that had been covered was not, and the bricks holding down tarps vanished. It's all stupid little stuff but it's been consistent and escalating in frequency. It got to the point where every time I came home I would look around for new damage or surprises. When I recognized it as a feeling of being unsafe, I called the men in blue. 


He was very easy on the eyes and easy to talk too and sympathetic and did agree that some of what I described could indeed be attributed to wind and nature, but not all of it and some did seem to be just nuisance activities. While it is said that you can leave your doors unlocked and feel safe in this town, the same cannot be said for vehicles. The youth in our community enjoy rifling through neighbourhood cars to see what treasures they will find. But as the officer told me, they never seem to go into backyards, so the likelihood of the grandson being the culprit was quite good. It also seems that the he himself had a run in with the lad one late evening at a local drinking establishment that necessitated him driving the drunken sot home. The officer was concerned about the potential for escalation of behaviour but given the trepidation that I was feeling, it was worth the risk. 


Officer Handsome called me back to report on his conversation with the neighbours. They denied everything regarding their displeasure over the fence, I am apparently the greatest neighbour ever. They did acknowledge that the grandson smokes and may have thrown cigarette butts over the fence when his butt can went missing a while back. They assured him they would discuss that behaviour with the young hooligan and of course they denied everything else. But now at least they know that if anything happens to me or my property, a report has been filed and they will be prime suspects and may think twice before retaliating. I feel better so it was worth it. 


Interestingly, Officer Handsome and I had a nice conversation about the collecting of unique objects - his mother collects very specific butterflies that his wife helps to locate. He was asking me about where I find all the Pink Panthers. The thing that struck me as unusual afterwards that he really saw nothing. The license plate of course, and a few in the kitchen. Really nothing that I would think would prompt that kind of conversation starter...hmmm. If he only knew the extent of the collection lol! Then maybe he might pull out those handcuffs and use them :)

My little piece of heaven in the concrete jungle-the Patio Bar!

Potatoes - Not just a toy but a food that kills!

Eat It - "Weird Al" Yankovic

Parody of  Beat It by Michael Jackson

People have always suffered from allergies but it seems to me that some people have taken the concept of "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child" to new heights making everyone responsible for the individual health concerns of someone else's child. I only remember knowing of one child who suffered from food allergies and from the age of 5, this tyke was taught to ask if something contained "red dye" or whatever oddity he was allergic to whenever he was offered something. His parents made him independent and responsible. Now granted it wasn't exactly a life-threatening allergy but I am illustrating the difference and what society is dealing with today. 

The most common allergies today are milk, egg, peanuts, fish, shellfish, sesame, soy, wheat, mustard and tree nuts. Tree nuts? Does this include acorn? Does that mean that visits to the park is off limits? Seriously, where did all these allergies come from or is it because society has become responsible for the well-being of the sufferers that we have simply become aware of them. I do remember hearing from the pediatrician when my children were born that care had to be taken when introducing milk, egg and peanuts to the infants diet. They had to build up their immune system a bit first. So maybe that is a partial cause of the increase in severe allergies. Our obsession with an antiseptic environment. Everything must be cleaned and disinfected with antibacterial wipes and soaps and cleaners, the air is infused with chemicals and what can't be washed or scrubbed is sprayed down with more chemicals. No doubt the anti-bacterial potion that we use when going to the germ infested doctors office or hospital may have some beneficial use, it must be remembered that along with killing the bad germs, it is also killing the good germs. Yes, good germs! Those nasty little bugs that don't kill us but give our immune system a work out by learning how to fight them. With the little battles, our bodies are better equipped to fight the war. Perhaps we aren't letting our children fight some of the battles on their own? I think that is part of the problem. 

The majority has been forced to become responsible for the survival of the few. The policies of the modern day school system has to be put under the microscope here. Recently a Sir Charles Tupper Elementary School in Halifax Nova Scotia has taken the radical step of banning all potato products, because ONE child is very allergic to all types of potato vapours. What about the children on gluten-free diets who rely on potato based breads to survive? Consider the ramifications of being allergic to potato vapours. You might as well live in a bubble. Friends, malls and food courts, theaters, restaurants, sports arenas and more would all be off-limits. Is the province of Nova Scotia going to go potato-free for this child? He/She better stay away from New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island or their economies are going to fall flat. Yes, it is ridiculous and even one allergist-immunologist admitted that this latest ban was controversial because it leaves one to wonder when will it stop. Indeed! 

It started with peanut butter in the schools. Most schools weren't peanut free but rather just the classrooms with allergic students. I worked in a classroom one year when a child told the teacher that they were allergic to peanuts. With a blink of an eye, a "Peanut-Free Zone" sign was slapped on the outside of the room and each student went home with a note outlying the accepted and unacceptable food products. No one talked to the parents of the child, no one requested a doctors note for proof. Instead, for the sake of one student, 20 or so others were no longer allowed their favourite food - peanut butter sandwiches. Students approached staff and asked worriedly if their granola bar that Mom packed was safe to eat. Then came Hallowe'en and the snacks turned to teeth-rotting fare. Suspecting much of the treats handing out at that time 5 years ago was probably not peanut free, I asked the classroom teacher who was responsible for ensuring that our allergic student was indeed safe from that offending peanut. She stated that the schools' liability ended when the sign was affixed outside the classroom and the note went home. On a lark and to prove a point she asked to look at the sugary snack that the allergic student was eating and guess what was written on that label? "May contain peanuts". An entire class is being inconvenienced while the "problem" child happily munches away on the offending product. This is an issue that is easily remedied however. A doctors note should accompany each and every claim of an allergy that in any way impacts the school community and it must be updated yearly. People have been known to outgrow and overcome allergies.

Let's assume that the allergy is actually legitimate. For a life-threatening allergy that can pose the risk of anaphylaxis, an epi-pen is often the first course of medical treatment that an exposed child should receive. Maybe I am wrong, but if my child is in danger of dying without an immediate injection of epinephrine, I am going to make sure that my child always has it on their person. Especially at school, where I know that the staff will be aware of my child's severe allergy and have all had training on how to use the epi-pen. But where is this life saving medicine kept, in the office. Why don't the students carry their own life saving equipment? Often it is because the children aren't made aware of their medical fragility, sometimes it is because the parents don't want their children to stand out from their peers by having to carry this around with them at all times. Good point, put their life in jeopardy instead? 

When it comes to the school community, I always thought that all the individual students in the school with allergies should eat their lunch together in a separate room. They could form a sort of camaraderie and discuss strategies on how to deal with their allergies. And the rest of the school population could be free to eat what they chose. My children's elementary school had banned peanuts, eggs, fish and mayonnaise. Making lunch was a frustrating process and expensive. Peanut butter was an inexpensive, nutritional alternative that the kids never complained about eating. Not particularly picky eaters fortunately, they still were not comfortable with taking a salad or cut up veggies for lunch. Tuna, egg salad, was out we had little choice but to turn to the highly processed lunch meats or worse the artificial mystery meat - bologna. 

But parents of food sensitive children are fooling themselves and living a life of denial if they think that the world will always bend and mold to the service of their children. While the food industry has certainly taken up the gauntlet and boldly labelled some of their products as peanut-free, I have not yet seen a similar sign outside a restaurant, or store or any other public gathering place. As a self-absorbed teen, the children are thrust out of the cocoon of the elementary school system and face the real world in high school. And while some cafeterias may be peanut free, no one is telling the students that they can't eat peanut laden food products. They eat in the halls and smear their dirty hands on the lockers and door handles and the desks that your sensitive child may be sitting at next period. Is it time now to teach your child to be a little bit responsible for their own health? If you want your child to see 18, I would suggest it is indeed that time! I hope it isn't too late. 

If you haven't done it recently get your children re-tested. My own son was allergic to shellfish and I taught him to take responsibility, if he wasn't sure, he would ask if the food contained shellfish. Not a life threatening reaction, he merely vomited, although with continued consumption it could have gotten worse perhaps even anaphylaxtic shock. As a preteen, he wanted to try a homemade chowder and took his chances on eating some. Low and behold, he was fine. He had outgrown his sensitivity. In my early 20's I had cause to go see an allergist, his findings - I was allergic to chicken and eggs. I've always eaten those food products, in fact they remain a main staple in my diet and never had ill effects. I was on high alert for any physical changes for a long time and removed them from my diet to see in there was the remotest possibility that it was true. Maybe there was a mild reaction that day, maybe the test was misread, but there certainly wasn't any cause to permanently modify my food choices as he suggested. 

Something needs to be done to stop the madness or there will be nothing left for our children to eat when they are outside of the home. Alternatively I suppose that the schools could force all students to leave the school and go home to eat whatever they want. That will throw a wrench in the economy when parents have to ensure that someone is home during the lunch hour to welcome the young 'uns or arrange for child care.