Day 7 - 100 -- Defining Moments

Any way to summarize the first 100 days of 2020? Interesting -- as in the Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times." Finding positive responses to the negative situations is heartening, but the uncertainty remains palpable -- just below the surface waiting to burst forth. Like when I was walking down a sidewalk in the gorgeous sun earlier today and asked myself, "where did those tears come from?" There was no specific answer. We will get through but there will be moments when that belief is overshadowed by the anxiety of being forced to live in a very different and often difficult way. 

In his daily update to the nation, PM Trudeau noted that 103 years ago today, Canadians showed their strength on a battlefield in northeastern France. That marked the first time Canadian troops fought side by side -- all four divisions -- along the trench system around Vimy Ridge. This battle marked a turning point in our nation's history -- a defining point for Canada as a nation almost 50 years after confederation. He likened the collaborative effort we see with addressing the COVID-19 pandemic to the comradery of the men going over the top to capture the hill. He felt our current community response to the situation would be another defining moment in our nation's history. Trudeau noted it won't be easy, but I'm not sure anything worthwhile ever is easy to attain. Not only will be taking care of ourselves, but we will be taking care of people we may not even know -- just by following public health guidelines. It will be a long haul, as we are now looking at late-spring or early summer as the earliest date when some things may revert to something closer to the past usual.  Physical distancing is likely to remain with us for some time as the subsequent waves of infection appear. As I've been trying to get my head around for some time, life will be different on the other side of this. How it will be different is that uncertainty that creates the occasional tear. 

As we all move forward through this unsettling time, perhaps we could draw upon the courage and bravery of past Canadians. Those who have served in our armed forces, emigrated from a faraway home, and the many others who have faced adversity in many guises. Hang on to that during the daily uncertainty.A song that highlighted this was an Alberta contest winner around the centenary of the battle of Vimy Ridge. As stated en francais, Courage.  Stay safe. Enjoy!

Valiant of Vimy -- Rebecca Lappa