SPT (via cell phone)

SPT - Lest We Forget

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In Flanders Fields

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In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

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We are the dead.

Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

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Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

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— Lt.-Col. John McCrae

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Every Canadian school child knows this poem written by a WWI Canadian army physician in 1915. Wearing a Flanders Poppy for the first eleven days of November is a tradition that means a lot to me. Today, Remembrance Day, is our day to remember and honor the fallen soldiers who have protected our freedom at home and abroad. If you walk down the streets of a Canadian city in the first part of November everyone you pass will be wearing a poppy.

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Today we had a unique experience . My kids and I tagged along with a home school group on their Remembrance Day field trip (thanks for thinking of me Tania and bringing us in on this).

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This fellow, Mark, is a WWI buff who used to work at the Museum of the Regiments. He was saddened by the lack of young people at Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Museum and decided he needed to create something more interactive that would engage young people in appreciating the sacrifices made for them by Canadian soldiers.

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So he created a real life replica of WWI trench warfare.

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At first Chloe was excited to be out of doors,

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until she noticed the smell. Mark had arrived earlier and lit fires all around the trenches, burning moss to create some stink and smoke. It was very effective, though not as smoky and stinky as it would have been in real trench warfare.

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Carmen peering out of the bunker that gave a view of the battlefield that fell away down the hill.

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A soldier would dig himself some shelter in the side of a trench where he might sleep.

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Steven in a crater - as if from a bomb.

(yes, Steven's friend wore shorts)

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Craters were created by bombing meant to tear apart the barbed wire, and thereby allow soldiers through to gain ground against the enemy.

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At the beginning of the afternoon we had all drawn a colored paper from Mark's helmet. At the end we discovered that those who had drawn red had been killed (about 25 of us) those who had drawn blue were the injured, blind and amputees (about 8 individuals) and Jaclyn, who had drawn a green paper, survived WWI as a soldier - whole in body and mind.

Everything I needed to know Chloe learned in 2nd grade

I've had the worst time hanging onto my poppy this year. I keep losing it - especially when I get out of the car because my seat belt drags it off.
This morning I was pinning Chloe's poppy on her dress and she said, "That's not how my teacher does it." She then proceeded to explain the brilliant 2nd grade teacher method:
In (through the fabric), out (making a new second hole in the poppy), in (3rd hole in the poppy - just through the poppy this time, not into the fabric). The black center hides the pin weaving through the red poppy.
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Now if I want to take my poppy off I have to remove the pin completely, pulling from the head of the pin. Sweet.
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In other news:
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It's this time of year again . . .

Good Mail

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Some good mail came my way in October:

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Amanda sent me a card with her beautiful penmanship inside, Jill made me a personalized batch of note cards, Michelle sent an autumn card that reminded me to get out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather, and Michelle sent me her fabulous gift tags (a Canada Post worker out there somewhere has some terrific Christmas gift tags - I'm so glad he didn't steal my birthday ones!).

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I have fallen out of the good mail habit, but good mail begets good mail and I am recommitted! Thanks to each of you for brightening my mailbox.

Toughest Loss of the Season

Steven had his final football game this morning.

It was a close game all along. Really a great game.

Scottie was amazing!

But the Falcons scored a touchdown that put them in the lead with only 2 minutes left in the game, and that remained the final score: 38-30.

It's a little hard to enjoy a silver medal moment when the team standing twenty yards across are being awarded gold medals.

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For me the best part was when we pulled up to the house afterwards: Steven took the time to thank Ken and I for supporting him through the season and coming to all of his games. Thanks for making me feel like a winner, Steve. You're a champ.