Won't be long now

Well we got the news today that we're putting my mother in a hospice tomorrow (Saturday) morning. It's gotten to the point where my father can't really handle it any more and even with help from home care, my brother, etc it's just too much for him.

Apparently when he told my mother her face just fell, as hard as it's been for her at least she was always at home with people who loved her and now that won't be the case. It's not like we can't go and visit, heck we can spend the night if we want, but obviously it won't be the same for her.

I'm not sure that it's the best thing for any of us either, it means that there's a good possibility that when my mother dies there won't be anyone there with her except for some strangers. . . not sure that will sit well with any of us.

Still, I guess it's the way things have to go.

Wish us luck.

Till next we meet. . .

Random Acts of Kindness

So on Friday I was leaving my office and heading for a meeting on my motorcycle. As I proceeded up Groat Rd. I noticed a fellow on the other side trudging northward with a jerry can in his hands and I realized that he was probably attached to the van I had seen sitting on the side of the road. I realized that this poor soul was heading for the gas station on 111th ave and that it would take him at least an hour to walk up there, get his gas, and walk back to his van.

So I headed up Groat, looped around at the top and came back down. As I got up beside the guy I reached through the guard rail and told him to hand me the jerry can so that I could go get him gas and save him some time. He was quite incredulous but handed me the jerry can and tried to give me some money, I was concerned about getting creamed by a car so I just grabbed the can and told him I'd meet him back at his van.

I went down Groat, looped around, went up and filled up his jerry can (took a whopping $10). Then I proceeded back to his van and gave him the gas. He tried to pay me for it but I wouldn't take the money, it's only $10 and if you're going to help someone out you might as well do it right.

I then took of and arrived about 30 minutes late for my meeting, when people asked my why I was late I told them.

I then put up with a good half hour of teasing for "being a superhero" and being asked where my tights and cape were. Half an hour I was harassed for doing a good deed, half an hour I put up with shit because I helped someone.

Then my boss asked me why I'm the one that these things always seem to happen to.

The answer is that they don't happen to me. Probably 500 people drove past this poor guy, at least half of those would have seen him and probably said "That sucks" out of all those people only one of us said "That sucks, and I can do something about it."

So I did.

Now I do this sort of stuff all the time, mostly because people have helped me every time I've needed it so the least I can do is tithe that favour back to the universe.

The fellow I rescued was absolutely incredulous that someone would do that for another person for no other reason than to help out. In exchange I simply told him to pay it forward and help someone else who needed it whenever that opportunity presented itself. . . and I think he will.

The part of this that made me really sad was in telling this story when people would say "But it's not random acts of kindness week. . ."

Why the hell does it have to be a designated week? When did we get to the point that helping another person simply because you can is no longer sufficient reason?

I for one will continue to help those that I can, I will continue to change flat tires, fill jerry cans, give people a ride, sit on the side of the highway with people who are a little afraid to be there alone, dial 911, perform first aid, perform CPR, put chains back on bikes, and anything else that I can do to help. I can't always stop, I can't always help, but when I can I will and I challenge you to do the same dear reader. I challenge you to look at someone who's found themselves in a rough patch and ask what you can do to improve it for them.

Till next we meet. . .

Riders on the Storm Part Deux

So I'm not sure what the best part of riding in a storm is. Is it the fact that you get to quote Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade at high volume. Or that you get to blast Wagner's Flight of the Valkyrie over your headphones at high volume. . .

I'm also not sure what the worst part of riding in a hail storm is. Is it the fact that you get smacked in the face by stinging chunks of ice at traveling 80 Kilometers per hour. Or that they turn into little icy ball bearings once they hit the ground. . .

Your choice.

Till next we meet. . .

Riders on the Storm

So today on my way home form work I got caught in a monsoon. Now of coures that wouldn't mean anything to most people but I was on my motorcycle. I was smart enough to put on my leather jacket and leather chaps before leaving work but of course I was still pretty wet when I got home, particularely with the open face helmet on.

I was rained on, hailed on (that hurts) and rode through water so deep I had to put my feet up on my highway pegs to avoid getting them wet. There was thunder and lightning and drivers with poor traction and visibility who seemed more anxious than ever to score themselves a motorbike.

And I loved every second of it.

I was singing, sometimes I just howled, laughed, smiled.

I don't know what it was, perhaps in the middle of so much misery it was that feeling of being alive, I don't know. What I do know is that all those people sitting in their cars looking miserable had no idea what they were missing. . . You can keep your cage, I prefer my world thank you.

Till next we meet. . .

All Good Things

It's going to be that time soon.

My mother has been fighting her battle with cancer for two years now and it's going to be over soon I fear. While I don't know when exactly, or how I have a feeling that it's going to be before the end of June.

It's been a long and hard fought battle and she's fought it with her upper lip as stiff as her British accent would lead us to expect it would be. Throughout it all she's fought with strength, grace, and determination but shortly it's to end.

My mother took a turn for the worse a few weeks ago and has been getting weaker and more confused on daily basis now and I really do think that she won't live to see another July.

Please if you're reading this don't rush over to the phone to call or the car to visit. We're frankly swamped and while we appreciate your well-wishes we don't have a lot of time or energy to dedicate to you at this stage. Feel free to call myself or Craig on our Cell phones if you need to get a hold of someone and we'll help you out as best we can.

I did want to take this chance to thank everyone for your help and support over the last two years. Those of you who have really been there for us know who you are and have made a tremendous difference, please realize that we appreciate it. We might not always have said it but we really do.

I also want to thank everyone who's going to help us in this upcoming time, I doubt I'll remember to thank you at the time but please know that even if I don't say it out loud you have my gratitude.

Till next we meet. . .