As Billy Madison once so eloquently said, “Back to school, back to school” September usually creeps quickly upon us, to the disappointment of many a child and to the relief of many a parent. I write this as my 3rd grader is home with a bout of vomiting, and my (as of yesterday) 2-year-old has decided to cut his molars. Whatever relief was implicitly promised this month, has not yet arrived.
However, August was a relatively quiet month on the old stress scale. Although, I did learn that flying with an almost 2-year-old is much more challenging than when he was 3 months. What previously consisted of sleeping on mom for several hours with periodic intermissions asking for her body parts, turned into the desire to run marathons up and down the aisles, and breaking the record for how many celebration cookies a human being could eat in 4 hours. I do enjoy the odd chocolate covered cookie, but the flight attendants serving hot beverages were not entirely keen on 2-year-old Brian Urlacher charging up and down the Airbus for the entirety of cruising altitude.
Moving on from me, there was a political debate on Tuesday that made a lot of people wonder. Firstly, if these “debates” are strictly for theatrics. And secondly, how in the world are these the two most qualified people in America to be nominated for Head of State? Feel free to crucify me for getting political, but between Kamala’s nauseating nervous laugh, and Trump’s permanent jaundice – I have a hard time taking either of them seriously. I’m not sure how the world has been overrun with so many of these so called “politicians” (including our very own dear leader himself), but I think it’s time for a systematic overhaul…The only thing more embarrassing than these people calling themselves “authentic representatives of the people” is Raygun calling herself a breakdancer…For those of you unaware of this abhorrent Olympic “performance” please click the link and enjoy.
Turning to something a little more serious, there was an incident that shocked the sports world in August that definitely put a cloud over me for longer than usual. No, I did not personally know Johnny or Matthew Gaudreau. But knowing that a sister lost both of her brothers the day before her wedding, and that multiple children (two yet to arrive) lost their fathers and that the parents lost their two sons in a single incident because of a drunk driver, while riding their bikes, certainly hit with a profound heaviness. As a Calgary resident and a flames fan, there will always be a void left by Johnny. Not from his expected departure from the Flames, but because of his unexpected departure from this world. You will be missed Johnny Hockey…
If nothing else, it serves as another sobering reminder not to take any moment for granted, even the difficult ones. Hold your loved ones, tell the ones you appreciate how you feel and be present in those fleeting moments that may seem insignificant at the time. I will close with a quote from Dr. Seuss that always hits home for me:
“sometimes we don’t appreciate a moment until it’s a memory”…
Thanking you for all your patronage and business, from the bottom of our hearts.
The Woodbine Team
Dad's Comedy Corner
Me: It doesn't have a tail, so I'm pretty sure it's a hamster.
Tech Support: *sigh*
Fine. Right click on your hamster...
